The FBI Files on John Steinbeck by Thomas Fensch

Ever since the 1939 publication of John Steinbeck's epic "The Grapes of Wrath," J. Edgar Hoover and his FBI were convinced Steinbeck was a communist. The FBI followed him for the rest of his life --the FBI files on Steinbeck grew and grew ---even after his death. During his life time, Steinbeck knew that the FBI was following him, but could not prove it. Eventually the FBI files were declassified and proved Steinbeck right-- the FBI had followed him for years--for no real reasons at all, just as Hoover's FBI followed many other notable Americans -and without cause.