“Of Mice and Men” is a novella written by John Steinbeck, published in 1937. The story is set during the Great Depression in California and revolves around two displaced ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, who have dreams of owning their own piece of land. Here’s a summary of the novella:

The story begins with George and Lennie on the run from their previous job because of an incident involving Lennie, who is mentally challenged but incredibly strong. They are headed to a new ranch where they hope to find work and save money to fulfill their dream of owning a piece of land together.

At the new ranch, they encounter a group of ranch workers, including the boss’s son, Curley, who is aggressive and constantly picks on Lennie. They also meet Slim, a skilled and respected worker, Candy, an old swamper with one hand, Crooks, the African-American stable buck who faces racism, and Curley’s flirtatious wife, who remains unnamed throughout the story.

Lennie’s fascination with soft things, particularly rabbits, causes problems on the ranch. George warns Lennie to stay out of trouble and to avoid talking to Curley’s wife. However, when Lennie is left alone with her one day, he accidentally kills her in a moment of panic while trying to keep her quiet.

Fearing the consequences, George makes the difficult decision to kill Lennie himself to spare him from a lynching or a harsh prison sentence. He does so with a heavy heart, emphasizing their shared dream of owning land and urging Lennie to picture that dream before pulling the trigger.

The novella ends with George, Slim, and the other ranch workers going for a drink, leaving the tragedy of Lennie’s death behind, while the future remains uncertain for these lonely and marginalized characters.

“Of Mice and Men” explores themes of friendship, dreams, loneliness, and the harsh realities of the American Dream during the Great Depression. It’s a poignant and thought-provoking story that continues to be widely studied and appreciated in literature.