Barnes & NobleOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

George, who is ""small, fast, and dark of face,"" and Lennie, who is very large and has a childlike intellect, make an unusual couple. Despite this, they have grown to become a ""family,"" sticking together despite their isolation and estrangement. They scurry for work when they can, making ends meet as farmworkers in California's arid vegetable fields. The plan, however, is for George and Lennie to have an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. While the powerlessness of the working class appears frequently in Steinbeck's writing from the late 1930s, he focused more intently on two men in his 1937 novel ""Of Mice and Men,"" painting an intimate portrait of them as they navigate a world characterized by petty tyranny, misunderstanding, jealousy, and callousness. Although the focus is limited, the theme-a friendship and a common dream that gives life meaning-is universal. This story offers a distinct perspective on life's challenges and has become a timeless classic as a result of its extraordinary success as a novel, a Broadway play, and three well-regarded films.