The Winter of Our Discontent was published in 1961 by John Steinbeck and was the last novel he wrote. The novel gets its title from Richard III, a play written by William Shakespeare:
"Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York
And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried."
Critics have commented on the similarities between Richard III and The Winter of Our Discontent, as they both deal with the ides of hardship, desperation, and greed. As a writer, Steinbeck is known for writing about American society and societal issues. This is something that is continued in this novel, where he talks about the desperation and desire for wealth and status, and what it can cause people to do. This novel was well-received and was made into a film in 1983.
