The Harvest Gypsies: On the Road to the Grapes of Wrath

This year marks the 75th anniversary of John Steinbeck’s [Grapes of Wrath]. Three years before publishing what would be his best known and most critically acclaimed novel, Steinbeck loaded himself into an old bakery van and toured the ‘Hoovervilles’ and ‘Little Oklahomas’ in Northern and Central California’s agricultural valleys. They had sprouted from the influx of migrant laborers who had fled to California to escape the dust and poverty of the Midwest. His notes formed the basis of seven articles that were published in the San Francisco News October 5-12, 1936.

Journalism has fueled many literary careers – ask after Jack London or Ernest Hemingway or Edgar Allen Poe. In 1936, Steinbeck had seen the publication of little show more that stands as classic Steinbeck – only [Tortilla Flat] in 1935. But the opportunity to rub elbows with the poverty ridden migrant class in the very fields and pastures where his own youth was rooted was too much to pass on. And the result was the creative seeds that quickened the Joad family for us all and promised Steinbeck the notoriety he felt his writing deserved.

[The Harvest Gypsies] collects the seven articles from 1936. The context for the substance of the articles, as well as for Steinbeck, is laid out in a detailed and thorough introduction written by Charles Wollenberg, a Berkeley professor and expert in California’s labor history. Wollenberg lays out the basics for those of us who wouldn’t understand California in 1936. But it is Steinbeck who looks at the issues from a multitude of facets, beginning with a rare description of the classes of poverty in the camps – even in destitution, there are degrees. Steinbeck breaks out the warring principles that drove the creation of the labor movement in California’s agricultural enterprises, the seeds of which eventually inspired Cesar Chavez in the 1960s.

Steinbeck’s articles evince a depth that is missing from most of today’s journalism, providing context and facts, but also taking a stance rather than merely describing a problem. An issue is never as fully explained as when the writer makes the bold choice of an opinion, regardless of the agreement of the reader. The articles even portend the eventual labor movements that changed the face of agriculture in the United States.

The detail and positions of Steinbeck’s articles never completely find their way into [The Grapes of Wrath]. Many issue-based novels devolve into little more than a platform for a political or ideological stance that the author wants to deliver. Steinbeck chose to use his research and experience to create an authentic place and time for his characters. And while [The Grapes of Wrath] is certainly tied to the issues of the time, it is first, and foremost, a story, and it never loses its way. [The Harvest Gypsies] is the deeper and more pointed examination of the issues, a companion book and a mirror for Steinbeck’s later novel.

What is still in evidence in [The Harvest of Gypsies] is Steinbeck’s straightforward, declarative writing. While anchored in a different medium, the articles are still classic Steinbeck. More of our modern writers would do well to practice their fledgling art in the world of print journalism, as it provides instruction on simple and powerful sentence writing and the ability to get to the meaning without meandering.

Bottom Line: A companion and mirror to [The Grapes of Wrath].

5 bones!!!!! show less

This short book is a collection of articles Steinbeck wrote for the San Francisco News in 1936 about the issues of migrant labourers in California. His articles not only expose starkly the horrible conditions in which many migrant families lived, which progressively worsened over time on the road and in encampments, but also covers the earlier history of migrant labourers in the state, Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans and Filipinos, as well as proposing some practical solutions to the problems. These are worthy and well argued, but clearly did not have anywhere near the impact on public and wider opinion that The Grapes of Wrath has had. What a talent to write so well in both reportage and fictional form.

. I'm not really a fan of Steinbeck (The Grapes of Wrath and Cannery Row), but found this short writing to be excellent reading. It was originally 7 newspaper articles that has been made into a short non-fiction book. Steinbeck heart wrenchingly describes the plight of the Okies during the Great Depression. He describes in detail their living conditions in the Hoovervilles. He also does a good job making these gypsies so very human. They were mostly small family farmers that lost their farms during the dust bowl. He tells us how the people in California hated them but needed them. Without these migrant workers most of the California peach and apples orchards would have failed. The book also includes photographs by Dorothea Lange and show more others, which were published when the columns were. Certainly much better than The Grapes of Wrath IMHO. 82 pages show less

In 1936, John Steinbeck toured the migrant camps and government camps of California. He wrote seven articles about the plight of the migrant workers that were published in The San Francisco News. The Harvest Gypsies is the compilation of those articles.

Having read The Grapes of Wrath there's not much to say about The Harvest Gypsies. It's clear Steinbeck was greatly moved by his experience in 1936, and it was this series of encounters that was the catalyst for his 1938 Pulitzer-winning novel. Elements of many of the stories Steinbeck tells in The Grapes of Wrath are first seen here. Told in a concise, largely journalistic voice, The Harvest Gypsies doesn't leave too much room for the Steinbeck we love, but he does make brief show more appearances.

The Harvest Gypsies is a very thin book primarily for Steinbeck fans. It also serves as a great companion to The Grapes of Wrath. It's not one I'd recommend to readers who have not read and loved The Grapes of Wrath. show less

'Grapes of Wrath' is one of my all-time favorites and i just finished reading 'In Dubious Battle,' so this was an interesting take on John Steinbeck's inspiration and motivation for these works concerning California migrant workers in the 1930's. I picked it up at the Steinbeck museum in Salinas 2 years ago and i finally got around to reading it. Harsh reality that is hard to relate to in our comfy worlds today......much appreciated and recommended..

Excellent series of articles on the problems of the dust bowl era. Much will seem familiar to the reader of "Grapes of Wrath". Thought provoking.

A collection of seven newspaper articles written by Steinbeck about migrant farm workers during the Depression. These writings led to The Grapes of Wrath.