American journalist John Steinbeck chronicled the Great Depression through his powerful writing. In works like "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Tortilla Flat," he depicted the struggles of displaced farmers and working-class families facing economic hardship. Steinbeck's narrative style combined realism with empathetic portrayals, allowing readers to engage deeply with the human experience during this tumultuous period. His journalistic background informed these narratives, making his literature vital for understanding the socio-economic challenges of the 1930s and the cultural landscape of America.