In "Of Mice and Men," a work about loneliness, hope, and loss, John Steinbeck created a powerful and moving portrait of two men struggling to understand their unique place in the world during the Great Depression of 1929. Having only each other amidst their loneliness and alienation, George and his friend Lennie, who is mentally challenged but physically strong, dream, as wanderers often do, of having a home of their own. Eventually, they find work on a ranch in the Salinas Valley. However, luck will not be on their side, and what follows will shatter the dream of a different life.