Cup of Gold: A Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History (1929) is John Steinbeck's first novel, a work of historical fiction based loosely on the life and death of 17th-century privateer Henry Morgan. It centres on Morgan's assault and sacking of Panama City (the "Cup of Gold"), and the woman (La Santa Roja, or the Red Saint) he seeks there, reputed to be fairer than the sun.
John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was an American writer and Nobel Prize laureate, best known for his realistic and socially engaged novels depicting the struggles of working-class Americans during the Great Depression. His works often explore themes of poverty, injustice, migration, and the American Dream, making him one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century.
