Recently listed in the Top 100 List of the Century's Best American Journalism Gathered in this important volume are seven newspaper articles on migrant farm workers that John Steinbeck wrote for "The San Francisco News" in 1936; three years before _The Grapes of Wrath_. With the inquisitiveness of an investigative reporter and the emotional power of a novelist in his prime; Steinbeck toured the squatters' camps and Hoovervilles of California. Here he found once strong; independent farmers—the backbone of rural America—so reduced in dignity; beaten in spirit; sick; sullen; and defeated that they had been "cast down to a kind of subhumanity." He contrasts their misery with the hope offered by government resettlement camps; where self-help committees; child nurseries; quilting and sewing projects; and decent sanitation were restoring dignity and indeed saving lives. _The Harvest Gypsies_ gives us an eyewitness account of the horrendous Dust Bowl migration; a major event in California history; and provides the factual foundation for Steinbeck's masterpiece; _The Grapes of Wrath_. Included are twenty-two photographs by Dorothea Lange and others; many of which accompanied Steinbeck's original articles.
#4816611 in Books 1976-09-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 #File Name: 0091276101320 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. There were so many names of various expedition members being mentioned that they all sort of blurred together (the author includBy Mungo__ParkAn account of the first documented (near) complete ascent of the length of the Congo River performed by a joint British-Congolese team of experts in the mid 70's concocted initially as a sort of commemoration of the centenary of the trip performed by HM Stanely 100 years earlier. The account is factual but nothing too exciting seems to have happened during the journey aside from a few boats overturning in the rapids. There were so many names of various expedition members being mentioned that they all sort of blurred together (the author includes a nice list of all involved and what their role was; etc). Not as enjoyable as his other work on the Blue Nile Expedition of which he was also a part.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. memoriesBy brian sandersI have read the book; and as a expedition member in 1974/75 it brought back many happy memories. It has taken me nearly thirty years to obtain and read the book about the expedition I was involved with. My views are unashameadly biased; but essentialy the book is a accurate journal of the problems that can beset any large expedition. The advice and experiences of the author are true and unbiased; reflecting the trials and tribulations of people brought together in sometimes trying circumstances. Have no doubt; read the book and revel in its truth.
