The Wayward Bus is a novel by American author John Steinbeck, originally published in 1947. The novel contains several references to the recent Second World War and America's attempts to adjust to life in the immediate postwar era. No single character dominates The Wayward Bus. The viewpoint shifts frequently from one character to another, often taking the form of internal monologue so that we are experiencing a given character's thoughts. Much of the novel's length is simply devoted to establishing and delineating the various characters. This novel takes place firmly within "Steinbeck country": most of the narrative occurs at Rebel Corners, a crossroads 42 miles south of San Ysidro, California. Although considered one of Steinbeck's weaker novels, at the time of its original publication The Wayward Bus was financially more successful than any of his previous works.