French, Warren, John Steinbeck, 2d ed., Twayne's United States Authors Series, No. 2, Twayne Publishers, 1975.

French discusses the novel in terms of Steinbeck's attempt to write about the evolution of a higher consciousness. The author holds that Steinbeck was not successful in this attempt because he remained essentially a naturalistic writer.

Lisca, Peter, John Steinbeck: Nature and Myth, Thomas Y. Crowell, 1978.

Lisca gives a generally negative assessment of the novel, describing it as deficient in characterization, invention, style, and discipline. Lisca also faults Steinbeck for contradictions in his theme of good and evil.

Owens, Louis, "East of Eden," in A New Study Guide to Steinbeck's Major Works, with Critical Explications, edited by Tetsumaro Hayashi, Scarecrow Press, 1993, pp. 66—89.

This work contains a background section, a synopsis of the novel, and a critical explication in which Owens describes the novel as one of the most misunderstood of...