Though John Steinbeck’s 1939 classic “The Grapes of Wrath” quickly became the nation’s number one bestseller, the citizens of Bakersfield, CA, were not impressed. The world witnessed the Nazi book burnings of 1939 but would soon learn that this small American town joined the trend and publicly burned and banned Steinbeck’s novel. Coinciding with Banned Book Week, author and journalist Rick Wartzman will discuss his new book “Obscene in the Extreme: The Burning and Banning of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath” and reveal the background story of this disturbing chapter of U.S. history.
Rick Wartzman will be in conversation with William Deverell, professor of history at USC and Director of the USC-Huntington Institute on the West.
WHEN: 7pm
ADMISSION: Free, reservations recommended
RESERVATIONS: www.lfla.org/aloud
WHERE: Mark Taper Auditorium @ the Central Library
ADDRESS: 630 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071
WEBSITE: www.lfla.org/aloud
PARKING: 524 S. Flower Street Garage
