John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a tragic novella following migrant workers George and Lennie as they pursue their dream of owning land during the Great Depression. Through the story of their friendship and Lennie's tragic fate, Steinbeck explores loneliness, dreams, and the impossibility of the American Dream for working people. The novel becomes both social realism and timeless tragedy, proving that Steinbeck understood the Depression's human cost and that some friendships are doomed from the start.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Steinbeck wrote the American tragedy about dreams deferred and friendship under impossible circumstances. This classic reminds us that George and Lennie's dream of "living off the fatta the lan'" represents every working person's hope, that the ending is devastating every time, and that Steinbeck's compassion for the marginalized is unmatched.

DETAILS: • Author: John Steinbeck • Publisher: Penguin Classics • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: February 1, 1994 • ISBN: 9780140186420 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days