Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication
Worth buying if: You appreciate Steinbeck’s wit and the eccentric protagonist Pippin IV.
Skip it if: You expect Steinbeck’s realist novels like The Grapes of Wrath rather than absurdist comedy.
Exact edition: Paperback · ISBN-13 9780140187496. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
In Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication, Steinbeck invents a hapless French king—Pippin—thrust into a surreal coronation, exposing diplomatic blunders, media spectacle, and the comedy of mistaken authority across 188 pages.
Why this book now
Steinbeck’s political farce still cuts through today’s media-driven pageantry and makes the folly of manufactured leadership feel freshly relevant.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You appreciate Steinbeck’s wit and the eccentric protagonist Pippin IV.
- You enjoy political satire that lampoons coronations, diplomats, and reporters.
- You expect Steinbeck’s realist novels like The Grapes of Wrath rather than absurdist comedy.
- You prefer dense political theory over theatrical satire and short-form fable.
- You need the newest edition, freshest examples, or the most current framing.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Paperback · ISBN-13 9780140187496
Worth buying if: You appreciate Steinbeck’s wit and the eccentric protagonist Pippin IV.
Skip it if: You expect Steinbeck’s realist novels like The Grapes of Wrath rather than absurdist comedy.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Light Short sit-downs
At 188 pages, this short novel is a brisk evening’s read—light on commitment but sharp in comedic observations and plot turns.
What stands out here
Penguin Group USA’s 1994 edition preserves Steinbeck’s playful voice and the tight, fabricated narrative centered on Pippin IV and his improbable court.
Best way to approach it
Read it aloud or with attention to dialogue—Steinbeck’s humor lands best through the novel’s comic timing and character exchanges.
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Paperback: ISBN-13 9780140187496
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.