East of Eden

A masterpiece of Biblical scope, this magnum opus of one of America’s most enduring authors is presented in a deluxe Centennial edition. Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck referred to it as "the first book," capturing its primordial power and simplicity akin to myth. Set in California's Salinas Valley, the novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—who reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the rivalry of Cain and Abel across generations. This work showcases Steinbeck’s most mesmerizing characters and delves into enduring themes such as identity, the nature of love, and the dire consequences of love's absence. Adapted into a 1955 film directed by Elia Kazan, which introduced James Dean, it has remained a significant part of American culture for over fifty years. The Centennial edition commemorates Steinbeck's legacy with special features like french flaps and deckle-edged pages. For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature, offering a global bookshelf of over 1,500 titles, providing authoritative texts enhanced by scholarly introductions and notes, as well as contemporary translations by award-winning translators.