In his journal, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck referred to East of Eden as “the first book”—a work with the elemental force and clarity of a myth. Set in California’s fertile Salinas Valley, this sweeping and often harrowing novel traces the fates of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose lives echo the ancient stories of Adam and Eve, and the devastating conflict between Cain and Abel.
Adam Trask journeys west from the East Coast, seeking a fresh start as a farmer and father. But after the birth of his twin sons, Cal and Aaron, tragedy strikes: his wife descends into madness and leaves him to raise the boys alone. As they grow, one son is embraced by love and light, while the other is consumed by solitude and shadow.
First published in 1952, East of Eden showcases some of Steinbeck’s most unforgettable characters and delves into his most profound themes: the search for identity, the mysteries of love, and the destructive power of its absence. A towering achievement from Steinbeck’s later years, East of Eden is both an epic family saga and a bold, modern reimagining of the Book of Genesis.
