John Steinbeck published his epic novel "The Grapes of Wrath" in 1939—after observing the plight of he homeless and the dispossessed—the Okies— "The Grapes of Wrath is now considered the seminal work of the Depression years.

"Steinbeck's bitter fruit" is a two-part pat analysis—Steinbeck's work during the 1930s —the second half shows a how close we may still be to the poverty, hopelessness and black years of the 1930os. The "bitter fruit" in the title are the grapes in "The Grapes of Wrath."

Written by an internationally-known Steinbeck expert.