1. Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck
An intro to the novella.

2. John Steinbeck Born in Salinas, CA in 1902. Died 1968.
Worked as a farm-hand as a young man.
Most famous books set in California in1930’s and 40’s, and deal with lives and problems of working people.
Many characters are immigrants from Mexico or other parts of U.S. looking for a better life in California.

3. The Setting of Of Mice and Men
Set in the farmland of Salinas Valley.
The ranch in the story is near Soledad, south-east of Salinas near Salinas River.
Weed is nearby.
Countryside described would be very familiar to Steinbeck.

4. Migrant Farm Workers
Between 1880 and the 1930’s, many men traveled the countryside harvesting wheat. But by the time Of Mice and Men was published, half of America’s grain was harvested by huge combine harvesters. Five men could now do what used to take 350. George and Lennie are some of the last of the migrant farm workers, earning up to $3.00 a day and very basic room and board. During the Great Depression of the 30’s, agencies (like Murray and Ready’s, where George and Lennie get their work cards) were set up to send farm workers where they were needed.

5. The American Dream
From the 17th Century, when the first settlers arrived, immigrants dreamed of a better life in America, but that dream seemed to end for American society with the Stock Market crash of However, the dream survived for individuals. Thousands made their way west to California to escape from their farm-lands in the mid-west and as a response to the growing popularity of cinema and Hollywood.