Cup of Gold

by John Steinbeck

Overview

Cup of Gold is John Steinbeck's first novel, published in 1929. It's a romanticized historical tale based on the life of the 17th-century Welsh pirate Henry Morgan.

The story follows young Henry as he leaves his quiet homeland in search of adventure, glory, and the legendary riches of Panama-the "Cup of Gold." Along the way, he becomes a fearsome pirate, driven by ambition and a desire to conquer both wealth and love, particularly the mysterious "fair maid of Panama." However, as he achieves his goals, he finds them hollow and unfulfilling.

The novel explores themes of ambition, disillusionment, and the cost of chasing dreams, hinting at the moral and philosophical concerns that would shape Steinbeck's later works.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798897184385
Publisher:	Lushena Books
Publication date:	06/09/2025
Pages:	172
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

John Steinbeck (1902—1968), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, achieved popular success in 1935 with the publication of Tortilla Flat. He went on to write more than twenty-five novels, including The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.

Susan F. Beegel is an adjunct associate professor of English at the University of Idaho and the editor of The Hemingway Review.

Date of Birth:

February 27, 1902

Date of Death:

December 20, 1968

Place of Birth:

Salinas, California

Place of Death:

New York, New York

Education:

Attended Stanford University intermittently between 1919 and 1925

Website:

http://www.steinbeck.org