The Essential Criticism of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Ed. Michael J. Meyer. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2009. 364p. alk. paper, $55 (ISBN 9780810867338). LC 2008-051372.

John Steinbeck's 1937 novella Of Mice and Men is one of the most popular works of American literature and also one of the most widely studied. Although deemed a failure by Steinbeck himself, this brief fable about two itinerant California ranch hands went on to win largely favorable reviews , selection by the Book of the Month Club, and successful transformation into a play and three movies. OMAM (as it is commonly referred to) is required reading in many schools and colleges, making George and Lenny familiar figures to generations of American youth. Michael J. Meyer, the editor of this collection of criticism, is adjunct professor of It is not immediately clear that the world needs another anthology on this topic. A number of critical introductions to Of Mice and Men already exist, not to mention guides in the Cliff's Notes and Barron's series. General collections of Steinbeck criticism also tend to include a few essays on this work. For example, The Short Novels of John Steinbeck: Critical Essays with a Checklist to Steinbeck Criticism (Duke, 1990) contains the articles by Spilka, Goldhurst, and Loftis reprinted in Meyer's new collection. Perhaps Meyer's goal was to bring the history of Steinbeck criticism up to the present day. He provides brief commentary on critical approaches decade by decade ; annotated bibliographies of important studies; articles and book excerpts; and three new critical essays (on English Romanticism, the theme of loneliness and isolation, and use of musical intertextuality). An appendix lists online sites replete with suggestions for lesson plans, learning activities, writing assignments, vocabulary, and historical background. Harried or jaded teachers looking for new material are clearly an intended audience for the book. As Meyer says, " In each new analysis, readers will find creative ideas for approaching a novel that is over seventy years old. " Initial reviews of the novel were above all descriptive and evaluative. Of Mice and Men was seen by most reviewers (including Eleanor Roosevelt) as a confirmation of Steinbeck's artistic promise, a vivid, expressive, and compassionate story of simple people struggling for happiness. Mark Van Doren's negative review in The Nation was a notable exception. The question of sentimentality was raised early on. Some found the plot contrived and the characters lacking in free will. As Steinbeck's reputation grew in the following decades, scholarly and biographical criticism began to appear. Critics were particularly interested in Steinbeck's use …