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John Steinbeck
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Of Mice and Men (Penguin Modern Classics) New e. Edition, Kindle Edition

by John Steinbeck (Author), Susan Shillinglaw (Introduction) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 42,102 ratings
Teachers' pick
for school years 1–9
Drifters in search of work, George and his childlike friend Lennie, have nothing in the world except the clothes on their back - and a dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch in California's Salinas Valley, but their hopes are dashed as Lennie - struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and feelings of jealousy - becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes of friendship and shared vision, and giving a voice to America's lonely and dispossessed, Of Mice and Men remains Steinbeck's most popular work, achieving success as a novel, Broadway play and three acclaimed films.
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  1. ISBN-13
    978-0141923475
  2. Edition
    New e.
  3. Publisher
    Penguin
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    7 Sept. 2000
  6. Language
    English
  7. File size
    1.8 MB
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From the Publisher

A Room of One's Own, The Lonely Londoners, Of Mice and Men Animal Farm, Women, Race and Class

A Room of One's Own, The Lonely Londoners, Of Mice and Men Animal Farm, Women, Race and Class

A Room of One's Own, The Lonely Londoners, Of Mice and Men Animal Farm, Women, Race and Class

A Room of One's Own, The Lonely Londoners, Of Mice and Men Animal Farm, Women, Race and Class

A Room of One's Own, The Lonely Londoners, Of Mice and Men, Animal Farm, Women, Race and Class

A Room of One's Own, The Lonely Londoners, Of Mice and Men Animal Farm, Women, Race and Class

A Room of One's Own, The Lonely Londoners, Of Mice and Men, Animal Farm, Women, Race and Class

A Room of One's Own, The Lonely Londoners, Of Mice and Men Animal Farm, Women, Race and Class

Product description

Review

A thriller, a gripping tale that you will not set down until it is finished. Steinbeck has touched the quick ― New York Times

From the Inside Flap

A parable of commitment, loneliness, hope and loss, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a powerful and moving portrayal of two men striving to understand their own unique place in the world. 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 feelings of 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 dispossessed, Of Mice and Men remains Steinbeck's most popular work.'A thriller, a gripping tale that you will not set down until it is finished. Steinbeck has touched the quick' The New York Times Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck is remembered as one of the greatest and best-loved American writers of the twentieth century. His works include The Grapes of Wrath, The Forgotten Village, Cannery Row and The Pearl. His complete works are published by Penguin.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002RI9VVM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 7 Sept. 2000
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ New e.
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 116 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0141923475
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12+ years, from customers
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 42,102 ratings

About the author

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John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck

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John Steinbeck (1902-1968), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, achieved popular success in 1935 when he published Tortilla Flat. He went on to write more than twenty-five novels, including The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.

Photo by JohnSteinbeck.JPG: US Government derivative work: Homonihilis (JohnSteinbeck.JPG) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
42,102 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book beautifully written and well-suited for GCSE study, with helpful notes to aid understanding. The story is incredibly moving with an attention-grabbing ending, and customers appreciate the well-developed characters, particularly the strong bond between George and Lennie. Customers consider the book thought-provoking, with one review noting how it explores complex life issues, and they find it good value for money. The heartbreaking story receives mixed reactions from customers.

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Writing qualityUseThought provokingValue for moneyStory lengthCharacter developmentFriendshipHeartbreaking story
219 customers mention ‘Writing quality’184 positive35 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as beautifully written and readable, with one customer noting how it creates a lot in very few words.

"...and Men is of course a brilliant read, with memorable characters, fantastic prose and also a read that allows for a philosophical reading that you..." Read more

"...It is this universality and the razor-sharp tightness of Steinbeck's storytelling, that makes Of Mice and Men a profoundly moving and richly..." Read more

"...Indeed, it is highly accessible to all ages and the simplicity of the written text belies the sheer complexity of the plot...." Read more

"...I don't know if it is a "good" book. Quick and easy to read." Read more

195 customers mention ‘Use’195 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very useful for GCSE students, providing helpful notes that serve as a good base for home study and can be used as a revision guide.

"...their aspirations, and because of this, Of Mice and Men was incredibly impactful, and a tense reading experience throughout which I have rarely felt..." Read more

"...A pity, because Of Mice and Men is superb, and touches on universal themes such as loneliness, poverty, friendship, jealousy and cruelty, which are..." Read more

"Good for my gcse english.👍🏽 would reccomend...." Read more

"...This particular book is also written for GCSE study, which I don't intend to comment on, as many have already done so...." Read more

112 customers mention ‘Thought provoking’112 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, with its unique insights and deeper meaning, and one customer notes how it explores complex life issues.

"...characters, fantastic prose and also a read that allows for a philosophical reading that you can return and build on a long time after reading...." Read more

"...Susan Shillinglaw writes a revealing introduction to this edition, which also tells us that Steinbeck conceived a new narrative form - the 'playable..." Read more

"...that’s what we did, we had great fun, and it helped our daughter remember the answers better." Read more

"...The story though, still comes across as just fine and is never less than interesting and engaging with many topical points to dwell on...." Read more

107 customers mention ‘Value for money’97 positive10 negative

Customers find the book to be good value for money.

"...Steinbeck discusses a wide range of social and economic issues in the Dust Bowl of America...." Read more

"...making my purchase, Amazon delivered swiftly with no fuss and kept costs down. Finally; the content...." Read more

"...Fantastic compact and great quality. Well priced!" Read more

"...A reasonable price and very quick delivery and a lovely looking book too...." Read more

66 customers mention ‘Story length’47 positive19 negative

Customers appreciate the story length of this novella, describing it as an incredibly moving narrative with an attention-grabbing and emotional ending.

"...of Steinbeck's storytelling, that makes Of Mice and Men a profoundly moving and richly rewarding read." Read more

"...This short book is brilliantly written and so moving. It's so easy to imagine the characters the way he writes about them...." Read more

"...For a story as short as this, it is difficult to complicate the plot and resolve all loose ends in so few pages...." Read more

"...readers who enjoy American Social History, Literary Fiction and Classic Fiction." Read more

59 customers mention ‘Character development’52 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding the characters well described and strong, with one customer noting the excellent interplay between George and Lennie.

"...Of Mice and Men is of course a brilliant read, with memorable characters, fantastic prose and also a read that allows for a philosophical reading..." Read more

"...The description of Salinas is majestic and the character development is highly well-crafted...." Read more

"...It's so easy to imagine the characters the way he writes about them...." Read more

"...The characters were likeable, although there are a lot to remember and most beginning with the letter C. So they did become a little inter-mixed,..." Read more

35 customers mention ‘Friendship’35 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's portrayal of friendship, with one customer highlighting the strong bond between Lenny and George, while another notes the trust and compassion in their relationship.

"...fantastically, with their strenuous but genuine friendship being depicted in an authentic manner that was amazing to read...." Read more

"...superb, and touches on universal themes such as loneliness, poverty, friendship, jealousy and cruelty, which are part of its enduring relevance and..." Read more

"...They raise questions of: loyalty, pity, vulnerability, sadness, anger & inferiority, loneliness / isolation and of course, from that period -..." Read more

"...The friendships and work friendships are a great fit. In all a great gripping and emotional journey. I would rate this book 10\10 ...." Read more

115 customers mention ‘Heartbreaking story’71 positive44 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the emotional content of the book, describing it as an emotive and heartbreaking tale that is quite sad in places, though some find it boring.

"...The relationship between George and Lennie is heartbreaking and brilliantly written. The book may be short but that does not mean it is not powerful...." Read more

"...Throughout the entirety of the read, there was an air of melancholy and sadness that was leading to the ending that I suspected would occur, but..." Read more

"...They raise questions of: loyalty, pity, vulnerability, sadness, anger & inferiority, loneliness / isolation and of course, from that period -..." Read more

"Short, sweet and beautiful...." Read more

Decent
5 out of 5 stars
Decent
The book itself is excellent, great story and a great read. I didn't like the fact the seller sent me a book that someone named James Stafford from 9B1 had written in for whatever reason. Me personally I'd never write in a book that I'd purchased.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Louise
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 May 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Great book,a classic
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  • Melanie Jane Coe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, brilliant writing, do not miss this novel.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 May 2025
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    Wonderful short story, not to be missed. I will never forget it!
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  • David
    4.0 out of 5 stars Simple, thought provoking
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2025
    Verified Purchase
    John Steinbeck transports to another time and another reality. I re-read this because Wales dropped it from it's curriculum. It sure isn't a nice book about nice people. I don't know if it is a "good" book. Quick and easy to read.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • William Gwynne
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic for a reason
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 April 2021
    Verified Purchase
    “Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.”

    I realised recently that I was one of only a few people who had not studied, or read, Of Mice and Men. As someone studying English Literature, this seemed like a crime, so I instantly set to rectifying that. Of course, everything I say in this review will not be discussing anything that has not already been covered on Of Mice and Men, and I will probably just be expressing myself in a less interesting manner. But, if you’re interested in reading some of the points that stuck out most to me, then go ahead :).

    I think this is a brilliant story, and well-deserving of its reputation. It has a very distinctive style, with unique central characters and a philosophical layer over the entirety of it which appears to act as a commentary on human nature. Being my first exposure to John Steinbeck, I imagine this is the style he is renowned for, and I look forward to engaging with it more in the future, perhaps with Grapes of Wrath in a couple months.

    “Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he ain't hardly ever a nice fella.”

    This is a story that revolves around our characters, which is driven by several powerful concepts, such as the often paradoxical nature of life, that interweave and act more as a subtle intrusion more as the main focus of the story. George and Lennie are our main protagonists, with George looking after Lennie, who has a mental disability. I think that these are both crafted fantastically, with their strenuous but genuine friendship being depicted in an authentic manner that was amazing to read.

    We have other key characters in Of Mice and Men, but I would say that these were not as well crafted as George and Lennie. But this is no bad thing. Steinbeck obviously made a conscious decision regarding this, and as such makes George and Lennie the focus, with others, such as Curley, appearing to represent the harsh life of the working class during The Great Depression.

    Throughout Of Mice and Men, I felt this air of perpetual melancholia, and a sense of dread that somehow permeated from every word. As George and Lennie discuss their dream, it just felt like the whole time that they would not achieve their aspirations, and because of this, Of Mice and Men was incredibly impactful, and a tense reading experience throughout which I have rarely felt before. To do this, John Steinbeck was obviously a master of his craft.

    “Guys like us got nothing to look ahead to.”

    Of Mice and Men is of course a brilliant read, with memorable characters, fantastic prose and also a read that allows for a philosophical reading that you can return and build on a long time after reading. I have not nearly covered the interesting aspects of this canonical story, nor could I if I tried, but these are just a few reasons you should read Of Mice and Men. For its size, it offers so much, and as a reader you can have the freedom of just enjoying a read, or engaging with with the concepts Steinbeck discusses.

    This was a good read, with unique central characters and a very distinctive, page-turning prose. Throughout the entirety of the read, there was an air of melancholy and sadness that was leading to the ending that I suspected would occur, but dreaded throughout.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • case4240xl
    5.0 out of 5 stars As described
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2025
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    As described
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  • Currer Bell
    3.0 out of 5 stars Well-crafted and enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 May 2015
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    This book is satisfactory. Indeed, it is highly accessible to all ages and the simplicity of the written text belies the sheer complexity of the plot. Steinbeck discusses a wide range of social and economic issues in the Dust Bowl of America. The description of Salinas is majestic and the character development is highly well-crafted.

    The reason why this book is merely "okay" is that, personally, the excessive usage of foreshadowing made the outcome of the novella far too predictable. Perhaps the build-up was more painful to read, as the inevitability of the dream farm crumbling felt all too tangible! Even the title: "Of Mice and Men" refers to a poem by Robert Burns, in which he explains that even the most well-thought out plans of anyone or anything (mice or humans) often go wrong and leave nothing but sadness and grief. Many characters do not develop throughout the novella - most notably Lennie - and as many critics have argued, the characters are therefore very one-dimensional. Lennie's obsession with rabbits and alfalfa is intended to be childlike, although lacks complexity. Similarly, Candy always remains an "old swamper". The most interesting character was Curley's wife, as Steinbeck persuades the reader to invest in the dream as much as the characters themselves, and fear that she might destroy it altogether. By the end, the reader is encouraged to sympathise with her plight.

    For a story as short as this, it is difficult to complicate the plot and resolve all loose ends in so few pages. I enjoyed reading the book, although the ending was quite depressing. Unfortunately, there is some aspect of human nature that would absolutely deplore a 'happy ending'. I would rather have seen Candy and George try to make something of the dream farm (or even say that they would go on with it). Without Lennie, the dream would be incomplete and in closing, the farm would have come true, but only to the depressingly constant reminder that Lennie is not alive to experience it. The novella did not end exactly as I may have wished, in that sense. The dream primarily brought sadness - whatever happiness that came with it died along with Lennie. Nevertheless, Carlson's last line condenses Steinbeck's views on isolation and friendship; Carlson's sheer lack of understanding produces a powerful effect on the reader.

    Overall, I would recommend it! At a good reading pace, the novella can truly be read in one sitting, which might be ideal for some light reading. Whilst not profoundly earth-shattering, it is sophisticated enough to make it worth reading.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • kathryn chilcott-jones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Needed for English g.c.s.e
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2025
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    If you’re child will be taking their g.c.s.e exams soon,, they will need this book, a good way to remember the story for the exams, is to make flash cards, or get the family to read out a paragraph in a funny voice, to test your child, that’s what we did, we had great fun, and it helped our daughter remember the answers better.
    One person found this helpful
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  • J
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2025
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    Good for my gcse english.👍🏽 would reccomend.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • B Camacho
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ink comes off the cover
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on 24 May 2025
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    The ink of the front of the book comes off, leaving the white marks on my hands
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  • Honza
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a classic
    Reviewed in Spain on 30 July 2015
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    I love the way Steinbeck plays with the language – flowery descriptions of sceneries and situations are in contrast with the way how the characters, un-educated man of the time speak. The story is brilliant, captivating, sad and beautiful.
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  • Gerardo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bonita historia.
    Reviewed in Mexico on 3 April 2021
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    Buen libro, para alumnos de inglés avanzado.
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  • Jack
    5.0 out of 5 stars Special book
    Reviewed in Italy on 8 February 2018
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    This is truly one of the most interesting books I've ever read so far. It's amazing how Steinbeck is precise in the descriptions and in the psychological analysis of the characters.
    The language is expressive and very easy to understand also for a foreigner like me.
    Very recommended book.
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    Jack
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Special book

    Reviewed in Italy on 8 February 2018
    This is truly one of the most interesting books I've ever read so far. It's amazing how Steinbeck is precise in the descriptions and in the psychological analysis of the characters.
    The language is expressive and very easy to understand also for a foreigner like me.
    Very recommended book.
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  • amazons
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muhteşem bir kitap ve baskısı da mükemmel
    Reviewed in Turkey on 14 September 2024
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    Fazla söze gerek yok muhteşem bir kitap ve baskısı ise videodaki gibi son derece kaliteli.
    Report

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