A sweeping, timeless story of love, betrayal, and redemption across generations. Set in California’s fertile Salinas Valley, East of Eden follows the intertwined destinies of the Trask and Hamilton families as they struggle with the timeless forces of good and evil. At the heart of the novel is the relationship between fathers and sons, and the deep, haunting need for acceptance and forgiveness. With vivid characters and powerful symbolism, John Steinbeck crafts a modern retelling of the biblical story of Cain and Abel, offering a profound exploration of free will, morality, and the complexity of human nature. Epic in scope and deeply personal in emotion, East of Eden is considered one of Steinbeck’s greatest masterpieces—a novel that resonates as strongly today as it did when it first appeared.
