John Steinbeck, Jr. was born to John Steinbeck, Sr. and his wife Hamilton Steinbeck. John Steinbeck, Sr. worked as the treasurer of Monterey County while his wife worked as a schoolteacher. Hamilton, being a schoolteacher, taught all of the children all about English. On John Steinbeck, Jr.’s ninth birthday his parents gave him his first book titled, Malory’s Morte d’Author. John Steinbeck, Jr. would read the book several times throughout his life.