• East of Eden

  • By: John Steinbeck
  • Narrated by: Richard Poe
  • Length: 25 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (17,480 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
East of Eden  By  cover art

East of Eden

By: John Steinbeck
Narrated by: Richard Poe
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $29.25

Buy for $29.25

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

This sprawling and often brutal novel, set in the rich farmlands of California's Salinas Valley, follows the intertwined destinies of two families - the Trasks and the Hamiltons - whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.

©1952 John Steinbeck; Renewed 1980 Elaine Steinbeck, Thom Steinbeck, and John Steinbeck IV (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A novel planned on the grandest possible scale...One of those occasions when a writer has aimed high and then summoned every ounce of energy, talent, seriousness, and passion of which he was capable.... It is an entirely interesting and impressive book." (The New York Herald Tribune)

"A fantasia and myth...a strange and original work of art." (The New York Times Book Review)

"A moving, crying pageant with wilderness strengths." (Carl Sandburg)

Featured Article: Who's the best? Rediscover the greatest, most notable American writers of all time


To curate a list of famous American writers who are also considered among the best American authors, a few things count: current ratings for their works, their particular time periods in history, critical reception, their prevalence in the 21st century, and yes, the awards they won. Many of these authors are taught in school today. From Hemingway to Harper Lee, these famous American authors are all worthy of enduring recognition—and a fresh listen!

What listeners say about East of Eden

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14,583
  • 4 Stars
    2,126
  • 3 Stars
    539
  • 2 Stars
    133
  • 1 Stars
    98
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    13,250
  • 4 Stars
    1,730
  • 3 Stars
    337
  • 2 Stars
    70
  • 1 Stars
    48
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12,924
  • 4 Stars
    1,768
  • 3 Stars
    532
  • 2 Stars
    130
  • 1 Stars
    75

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Part 3&4 are perfect

Parts 1&2 are uncomfortable because of the content and Steinbeck’s skill. It sets the foundation for characters in the other half of the book to CHOSE redemption. If you need a story with at least one easy-to-like character, hang in there for Samuel Hamilton and Lee.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mesmerizing

well read, Perfect audiobook. Takes me back to my childhood of the Salinas Valley.Brilliant story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read for our time

So many times while going through this book I thought "the more things change, the more things stay the same." A great treatise on human nature.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping and thought provoking story

It was excellent. but the narrator did not always do well at differentiating between the voices of various characters in dialogue. Not even when it should have been easy, like when one speaker is male, and the other female.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thou Mayest Enjoy the Book

I wish I was able to comprehend this when I first read it, now as a man grown, I'm baffled on how blind I was the first read through.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This is a classic but not classicly boring

absolute classic from beginning to end beautiful absolutely beautiful real,sad and yet hopeful a amazing book absolutely

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I can see why this is a classic

Once I picked up this book, I couldn’t put it down. It didn’t blow my mind or anything. It’s just really good storytelling with almost tangible characters and events. I can see why this is a regarded as a great classic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Timshel

Each character in this saga was unique and unpredictable in his or her own way. It really brought home the idea that each person has the ability to choose to live a "good" life despite one's circumstances. I thought that Lee was the hero of this story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lifechanging

There is a lot of profound wisdom in this book, although it can be bleak. Timshel

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, excellent narration

One of my favorite novels narrated by one of my favorite voice artists. Steinbeck’s story is enthralling and Richard Poe’s narration gets me every time!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!