To a God Unknown

This lesser-known Steinbeck is one of his earliest works, published in 1933, after taking five years to write.  While not one of his best books, it follows many themes that Steinbeck would use throughout his career: realism, allegory and Monterey County, California.  You might even call To a God Unknown a trial run for Steinbeck's later, greater works.

The story follows Joseph Wayne, a newcomer to Monterey County from New England, who has heard about all the land available for homesteading. After establishing himself there, he convinces his brothers and their families to come to California to claim adjacent land so they can have one large ranch together, instead of trying to scrape a living from the relatively smaller family holdings in Vermont.

There are misgivings when the men find out about the periodic droughts that occasionally plague the area; however, they are quickly forgotten in the first few years of plenty in the valley.  Unfortunately, drought begins shortly after one of the brothers performs an act that seems, to Joseph at least, to precipitate the disaster.  In the end, Joseph provides a sacrifice that he believes brings the rain back.

This novel, like most of Steinbeck's, provides an ending that is a mixed blessing.  As I've stated before, many people find his books depressing, however I take the perspective that frequently the good comes from the bad.