The Winter of Our Discontent

The Winter of Our Discontent, published in 1961, is John Steinbeck's last novel.

It follows Ethan Allen Hawley, a grocery clerk in a small Long Island town, who wrestles with feelings of inadequacy and moral compromise amid societal pressures and materialism.

The story delves into themes of honesty, ambition, and the erosion of traditional values in post-World War II America.

The title is drawn from Shakespeare's Richard III, reflecting the novel's focus on discontent and moral crisis.

Steinbeck's work critiques the corrupting influence of money and the tension between private integrity and public success.