Final answer:
John Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962 for his rich and multifaceted work and earlier won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 for his novel 'The Grapes of Wrath,' which addresses themes of social justice.
Step-by-step explanation:
American author John Steinbeck was awarded two significant literary accolades during his career. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962, a highly prestigious international award recognizing individuals for their substantial lifetime achievements in literature, established in the will of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. The Nobel Prize in Literature celebrates authors with an outstanding contribution to the arts of letters, and Steinbeck was lauded for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humour and keen social perception. Additionally, Steinbeck won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel 'The Grapes of Wrath' in 1940, another esteemed award given for exceptional works in literature, journalism, and music, administered by Columbia University. This novel, set during the Great Depression, chronicles the journey of the Joad family from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to California, and it is championed for its epic narrative and exploration of social justice themes.