Steinback's period drama follows the multigenerational intertwined stories of the Hamilton and Trask families throughout the Civil War and World War I, all while exploring themes of identity, love, and immigration. While the book is not autobiographical, Steinbeck did draw from his childhood experiences while writing the book. Some of his relatives even appear as minor characters in the book.
The original 1955 movie adaptation of the book only partially adapted the novel's storyline, and it remains to be seen how much the Netflix series will follow the original story.
Image Source: Getty /John Shearer