Audiobooks by John Steinbeck

Cup of Gold: A Life of Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History

"“There was no desire in him for a state or condition, no picture in his mind of the thing to be when he had followed his longing; but only a burning and a will overpowering to journey outward and outward after the earliest risen star.” John Steinbeck’s first novel, and his only work of historical fiction, is loosely inspired by Sir Henry Morgan, the infamous pirate of the 1650s and 60s. Captain Morgan was a legendary and notorious man who struck terror into the hearts of men, in service of his personal ambitions. He has become obsessed with two thoughts: the beautiful and mysterious woman known as La Santa Roja, and to conquer Panama City (the titular Cup of Gold) away from Spain. Unique in Steinbeck’s oeuvre, this swashbuckling tale is both a historical and fantastical retelling of the life of this legendary Welsh pirate. Featuring an introduction written and read by Stefan Rudnicki"

John Steinbeck (Author), Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator)

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Cup of Gold

"Embark on a swashbuckling adventure with Cup of Gold, John Steinbeck’s first novel, a richly imagined tale of ambition, passion, and piracy. This gripping audiobook brings to life the legendary exploits of Sir Henry Morgan, one of history’s most notorious privateers, as he seeks fame, fortune, and the mythical “Cup of Gold.” Set in the 17th century, the story follows Morgan’s rise from a restless young man in Wales to a feared pirate commanding the Caribbean seas. Along the way, he dreams of conquering Panama and claiming the fabled treasure, along with the heart of the beautiful La Santa Roja. But Morgan’s journey is more than an adventure—it’s a meditation on power, desire, and the cost of ambition. Steinbeck’s vivid prose and nuanced storytelling shine in this historical tale, blending historical fact with mythic overtones. The expert narration captures the high seas’ danger and allure, bringing the characters and their conflicts to life. Perfect for fans of historical fiction, classic literature, and tales of daring exploration, Cup of Gold is an unforgettable audiobook that showcases Steinbeck’s early brilliance. Start listening to Cup of Gold today and sail into a world of adventure and legend!"

John Steinbeck (Author), Oliver Thompson (Narrator)

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A Rare Recording of John Steinbeck's 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature Speech

"John Ernst Steinbeck (February 27, 1902 - December 20, 1968), born in Salinas, CA, was an American writer who won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception." His writings include the novels Of Mice and Men (1937), the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Grapes of Wrath (1939), and East of Eden (1952). The following is Steinbeck's speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1962."

John Steinbeck (Author), John Steinbeck (Narrator)

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[Spanish] - De ratones y hombres

"'De ratones y hombres' narra la historia de Lennie y su compañero y ángel de la guarda George, dos braceros al borde de la indigencia. Contratados en una granja regentada por un ex boxeador, la insatisfecha esposa del patrón pone en serios aprietos a Lennie, que la mata accidentalmente y huye al bosque. Un conmovedor canto a la amistad y sobre todo una novela intensa con unos diálogos ejemplares y perfectamente construida, de la que ningún lector podrá olvidar su desenlace."

John Steinbeck (Author), Oscar Goikoetxea (Narrator)

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[Spanish] - Tortilla Flat

"«Esta es la historia de Danny y de los amigos de Danny y de la casa de Danny. Es la historia de cómo estos tres llegan a convertirse en una sola cosa, de manera que si en Tortilla Flat mencionas la casa de Danny no te estás refiriendo a una estructura de madera cubierta con una capa de cal descascarillada y adornada con un viejo y descuidado rosal de Castilla. No, cuando hablas de la casa de Danny se entiende que te refieres a una unidad cuyas partes son hombres y de la que emanó dulzura y felicidad, filantropía y, al final, un dolor místico.» Así comienza esta novela en la que sus protagonistas, unos humildes habitantes de Monterey (California), nos demostrarán como su amistad se impone por encima del dinero. Juntos afrontarán la herencia que recibe Danny: dos pequeñas casitas familiares en Tortilla Flat. Esta historia fue llevada al cine en 1942, bajo la dirección de Victor Fleming y protagonizada por Spencer Tracy y Hedy Lamarr."

John Steinbeck (Author), Gonzalo Durán (Narrator)

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The Grapes of Wrath: Penguin Modern Classics

"Brought to you by Penguin. 'I've done my damndest to rip a reader's nerves to rags, I don't want him satisfied.' Shocking and controversial when it was first published, The Grapes of Wrath is Steinbeck's Pultizer Prize-winning epic of the Joad family, forced to travel west from Dust Bowl era Oklahoma in search of the promised land of California. Their story is one of false hopes, thwarted desires and powerlessness, yet out of their struggle Steinbeck created a drama that is both intensely human and majestic in its scale and moral vision. © John Steinbeck 1939 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

John Steinbeck (Author), Richard Armitage (Narrator)

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East of Eden: Penguin Modern Classics

"Brought to you by Penguin. 'There is only one book to a man,' Steinbeck wrote of East of Eden, his most ambitious novel. Set in the rich farmland of the Salinas Valley, California, this powerful, often brutal novel, follows the intertwined destinies of two families - the Trasks and the Hamiltons - whose generations hopelessly re-enact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. Here Steinbeck created some of his most memorable characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of identity; the inexplicability of love, and the murderous consequences of love's absence. © John Steinbeck 1952 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

John Steinbeck (Author), Simon Manyonda (Narrator)

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[Spanish] - El autobús perdido

"John Steinbeck escribió esta novela justo después de su gran éxito 'Las uvas de la ira'. Narra el accidentado viaje de un autobús rural entre las poblaciones de Rebel Corners y San Juan de la Cruz, en California, al término de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Es un magistral retrato de personajes y en un acerado estudio sobre los problemas centrales de todos los hombres en todas las épocas: la familia, el sexo, el amor, las ambiciones, las frustraciones y los anhelos… Esta obra se aleja del sentimentalismo y la autocomplacencia. Es un viaje interior hacia el corazón de unos viajeros perdidos en la decepción del sueño americano. El autobús perdido contiene algunos de los grandes temas clásicos dentro de la obra narrativa del premio Nobel de Literatura John Steinbeck."

John Steinbeck (Author), Oscar Goikoetxea (Narrator)

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Of Mice and Men: Penguin Modern Classics

"Brought to you by Penguin. Drifters in search of work, George and his simple-minded friend Lennie, have nothing in the world except each other - and a dream. A dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch, but their hopes are doomed as Lennie - struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and jealousy - becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes, friendship and a shared vision, and giving a voice to America's lonely and dispossesed, OF MICE AND MEN remains Steinbeck's most popular work. © John Steinbeck 1937 (P) Penguin Audio 2021"

John Steinbeck (Author), Billy Howle (Narrator)

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[Italian] - La valle dell'eden

"'Nel paese di Nod, a est del giardino dell'Eden, dove la progenie di Caino andò a vivere secondo la leggenda biblica e che nel romanzo di John Steinbeck corrisponde simbolicamente alla valle percorsa dal fiume Salinas nella California settentrionale, si intrecciano le storie di due famiglie, gli Hamilton e i Trask. Protagonisti della saga, che va dalla Guerra civile alla Prima guerra mondiale, da una parte il vecchio Samuel Hamilton, immigrato dall'Irlanda; e, dall'altra, Cyrus Trask insieme ai figli Adam e Charles, e ai nipoti Aron e Caleb, gemelli nati dalla misteriosa Cathy Ames, reincarnazione di Eva e di Satana allo stesso tempo, emblema del male nel mondo, con il quale tutti nel corso della lunga vicenda devono misurarsi. Pubblicato negli Stati Uniti nel 1952 e ora riproposto nella nuova traduzione di Maria Baiocchi e Anna Tagliavini, ''La valle dell'Eden'' è il romanzo in cui Steinbeck ha creato i suoi personaggi più affascinanti e ha esplorato più a fondo i suoi temi ricorrenti: il mistero dell'identità, l'ineffabilità dell'amore e le conseguenze tragiche della mancanza d'affetto. Al tempo stesso saga famigliare e moderna trasposizione del mito, ''La valle dell'Eden'' è il capolavoro della maturità di Steinbeck, da cui nel 1955 Elia Kazan ha tratto l'omonimo film con James Dean. © 1952 by John Steinbeck © 2014 Bompiani/RCS Libri S.p.A. © 2014 Giunti Editore S.p.A./Bompiani'"

John Steinbeck (Author), Graziano Piazza (Narrator)

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Journal of a Novel: Penguin Modern Classics

"Brought to you by Penguin. This collection of letters forms a fascinating day-by-day account of Steinbeck's writing of EAST OF EDEN, his longest and most ambitious novel. The letters, ranging over many subjects - textual discussion, trial flights of workmanship, family matters - provide an illuminating perspective on Steinbeck, the creative genius, and a private glimpse of Steinbeck, the man. © John Steinbeck 1969 (P) Penguin Audio 2020"

John Steinbeck (Author), Christopher Ragland (Narrator)

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The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights: Penguin Modern Classics

"Brought to you by Penguin. Steinbeck's first posthumously published work, The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights is a reinterpretation of tales from Malory's Morte d'Arthur. In this highly successful attempt to render Malory into Modern English, Steinbeck recreated the rhythm and tone of the original Middle English. © John Steinbeck 1976 (P) Penguin Audio 2020"

John Steinbeck (Author), Nezar Alderazi (Narrator)

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