12 Authors Similar to John Steinbeck for Deep Stories

Few writers have captured the soul of ordinary people like John Steinbeck.

His stories echo with empathy, resilience and a deep connection to a place which is often shining a light on those living at society’s edges.

If his writing left a lasting impression on you, there are other voices that share that same emotional depth and social insight.

These authors similar to John Steinbeck offer powerful storytelling rooted in humanity, hardship and hope.

Whether you’re drawn to rural landscapes, working-class struggles or rich character portraits, this list brings together writers who honor Steinbeck’s spirit while offering something uniquely their own.

12 Authors Similar To John Steinbeck

1. Wallace Stegner

Writing Style & Themes:
Wallace Stegner writes with a deep reverence for the American landscape, especially the wide-open spaces of the West.

His work often explores the connection between people and place, the passage of time and the moral weight of progress. 

Like Steinbeck, he weaves social issues into personal stories, focusing on community, memory and the human cost of change. 

His prose is graceful and reflective, grounded in realism and emotional depth.

Notable Books/Series:

• Angle of Repose
• Crossing to Safety
• The Spectator Bird

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He writes with wisdom and heart, bringing place and character to life with a rare sense of clarity and compassion.

Wallace Stegner’s Website: https://wallacestegner.org/bio.html 

2. Russell Banks

Writing Style & Themes:
Russell Banks writes with a raw and unflinching eye on working-class life in America. 

His stories often follow characters on the edge of society confronting economic hardship, racial tension and fractured families. 

Like Steinbeck, he brings a deep empathy to the overlooked and forgotten, capturing personal tragedy within the framework of larger social realities.

Notable Books/Series:

• Continental Drift
• Cloudsplitter
• Affliction

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He confronts uncomfortable truths with honesty and grace, giving voice to the silenced and the struggling.

Russell Banks’ Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15128.Russell_Banks 

3. Richard Russo

Writing Style & Themes:
Richard Russo is a master of small-town storytelling. 

His writing blends humor, melancholy and warmth, diving deep into ordinary lives marked by economic decline and quiet resilience. 

Much like Steinbeck, Russo is drawn to blue-collar characters navigating ageing towns and frayed relationships with grace and grit.

Notable Books/Series:

• Empire Falls
• Nobody’s Fool
• Straight Man

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He turns everyday life into something extraordinary with humor, heart and deep humanity.

Richard Russo’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7844.Richard_Russo 

4. John Irving

Writing Style & Themes:
John Irving’s novels are rich tapestries of eccentric characters, sweeping plots and emotional depth. 

He explores family, fate, trauma and social issues with dark humor and compassion. 

While more whimsical than Steinbeck, Irving shares his love for underdogs, moral complexity and powerful storytelling grounded in real human emotion.

Notable Books/Series:

• The World According to Garp
• A Prayer for Owen Meany
• The Cider House Rules

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He builds unforgettable characters and stories that blend heartache, humor and deep meaning.

John Irving’s Website: https://john-irving.com/

5. Cormac McCarthy

Writing Style & Themes:
Cormac McCarthy’s writing is spare, poetic and often brutal. 

His work delves into survival, violence and moral decay set in desolate landscapes.

Like Steinbeck, he explores the consequences of poverty and progress, though with a darker and more philosophical edge. 

His characters often face immense loss and harsh realities, yet retain a glimmer of human endurance.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Road
• All the Pretty Horses
• Blood Meridian

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He confronts life’s harshest truths with stunning beauty, intensity and unforgettable imagery.

Cormac McCarthy’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4178.Cormac_McCarthy 

6. Colson Whitehead

Writing Style & Themes:
Colson Whitehead blends historical fiction with sharp social critique and rich storytelling. 

His novels often center on systemic injustice, race and resilience which echo Steinbeck’s commitment to exposing society’s failures through deeply personal stories. 

His prose is both elegant and powerful, often illuminating the past to reflect the present.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Underground Railroad
• The Nickel Boys
• Harlem Shuffle

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He tells hard stories with clarity, depth and a sense of hope that lingers long after the last page.

Colson Whitehead’s Website: https://www.colsonwhitehead.com/

7. Wendell Berry

Writing Style & Themes:
Wendell Berry writes about rural life with tenderness, clarity and a deep sense of place. 

His stories celebrate community, simplicity and the bond between humans and the land. 

Like Steinbeck, Berry’s work reflects a moral vision rooted in compassion, dignity and an enduring love for the natural world.

Notable Books/Series:

• Hannah Coulter
• Jayber Crow
• The Memory of Old Jack

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He writes with quiet power and grace which reminds us of the beauty in ordinary lives and close-knit communities.

Wendell Berry’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8567.Wendell_Berry 

8. Don DeLillo

Writing Style & Themes:
Don DeLillo explores American identity through reflective prose and layered narratives. 

His work often focuses on media, technology and existential dread but like Steinbeck, he probes the forces that shape society and the individuals caught within them. 

His writing is cool, intellectual and hauntingly prescient.

Notable Books/Series:

• White Noise
• Underworld
• Libra

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He dissects modern life with poetic insight, uncovering quiet truths beneath chaos and noise.

Don DeLillo’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/233.Don_DeLillo 

9. Jonathan Franzen

Writing Style & Themes:
Jonathan Franzen crafts detailed character-driven stories that examine modern family life, environmental concerns and cultural disconnection. 

His novels like Steinbeck’s, wrestle with personal responsibility in a shifting world. 

Franzen’s voice is literary and emotionally sharp while balancing satire with heartfelt introspection.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Corrections
• Freedom
• Crossroads

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He captures the emotional messiness of life with realism, wit and striking psychological insight.

Jonathan Franzen’s Website: https://jonathanfranzen.com/

10. Donna Tartt

Writing Style & Themes:
Donna Tartt blends rich and lyrical prose with emotionally intense and deeply introspective stories. 

Her novels often center on loss, identity and the moral consequences of choices. 

Though more ornate in style than Steinbeck, she shares his ability to render raw human emotion with devastating clarity.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Goldfinch
• The Secret History
• The Little Friend

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She writes with passion and depth, creating characters and atmospheres that linger long after the story ends.

Donna Tartt’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8719.Donna_Tartt 

11. Jennifer Egan

Writing Style & Themes:
Jennifer Egan experiments with form while staying rooted in emotional realism. 

Her writing often reflects on memory, time and how technology reshapes relationships. 

Like Steinbeck, she portrays social change with a compassionate and human touch, giving voice to people caught in transition.

Notable Books/Series:

• A Visit from the Goon Squad
• The Candy House
• Manhattan Beach

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She blends innovation with heart, telling stories that are both intimate and far-reaching in scope.

Jennifer Egan’s Website: https://jenniferegan.com/

12. Dave Eggers

Writing Style & Themes:
Dave Eggers brings a vibrant and often experimental voice to stories of struggle, resilience and social awareness. 

His nonfiction and fiction alike reflect a deep concern for justice and the human spirit. 

Like Steinbeck, he champions ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges with heart and clarity.

Notable Books/Series:

• What Is the What
• A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
• The Circle

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He mixes empathy, urgency and creativity to tell stories that entertain, challenge and inspire.

Dave Eggers’ Website: https://daveeggers.net/

Final Word on the Authors Like John Steinbeck

Great storytelling stays with us and that’s exactly what these authors like John Steinbeck do so well.

Writers like Wallace Stegner, Richard Russo and Wendell Berry bring us into the lives of everyday people with honesty and heart.

Others like Colson Whitehead and Jennifer Egan, tackle big ideas while keeping their stories grounded in real human experience.

Whether you’re drawn to quiet moments or sweeping social themes, this list of authors similar to John Steinbeck offers something meaningful for every reader.