''The Pastures of Heaven'' is a short story cycle by
John Steinbeck, first published in 1932, consisting of twelve interconnected stories about a valley, the
Corral de Tierra, in
Monterey, California, which was discovered by a Spanish corporal while chasing runaway
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
slaves. Enchanted by the valley's natural beauty, the corporal names it ''Las Pasturas del Cielo'' or "The Pastures of Heaven." The stories are written in classic Steinbeck style; the lives of the families that relocate to the valley are portrayed with a mixture of humor and poignance. A recurring theme in the book is the pain caused when people try ineptly to help or to please others.
In the arts
In the story "Junius Maltby", one of the characters regards Robert Louis Stevenson's ''
Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes'' as one of the greatest works of English literature and eventually names his infant son Robert Louis. Steinbeck was later inspired by Stevenson in choosing to title his account of his cross-country voyage with a gray-haired poodle in the 1960s, ''
Travels With Charley: In Search of America''.
Legacy
The grounds of the schoolhouse in which many chapters are set is still in use by the
Washington Union School District
The Washington Union School District is a school district outside Holywood county shwentsil park, California, Salinas, California. It was established in 1869. Its middle school, San Benancio, Monterey County, California, San Benancio Middle Sch ...
where fourth and fifth grade are taught.
Adaptations
A stage adaptation of ''The Pastures of Heaven'' done as a collaboration between the
California Shakespeare Theater and
Word for Word Performing Art Company (a company that stages short stories literally word for word) premiered in Orinda, California, in June 2010. The script was by Octavio Solis, and it was directed by California Shakespeare Theater's artistic director
Jonathan Moscone.
References
Further reading
* Martock, Melanie. "The Eden Myth as Paradox: An Allegorical Reading of ''Pastures of Heaven''.
''Steinbeck Quarterly'' 11.01 (Winter 1978) 6-15.
* Hearle, Kevin. "The Pastures of Contested Pastoral Discourse.
''Steinbeck Quarterly'' 26.01-02 (Winter/Spring 1993) 38-45.
* Winn, Harbour. "The Unity of Steinbeck's ''Pastures'' Community.
''Steinbeck Quarterly'' 22.03-04 (Summer/Fall 1989) 91-103.
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pastures Of Heaven, The
1932 short story collections
20th-century short stories
American short story collections
History of Monterey County, California
Short stories set in California
Short story collections by John Steinbeck