Hi folks - can anyone recommend any great books, fiction or non fiction, about the great depression in the United States. It has always fascinated me and I would welcome any recommendations which has the great depression heavily forming part of the story

The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men (both by John Steinbeck) are two of the best-known fiction books about the Depression.  I recently read Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen) which is a slightly different take on the subject, being the story of a US circus troupe in the early 1930s.  I can't think of any more off the top of my head, but found this list on Library Thing for you: http://www.librarything.com/tag/Great+Depression

I've recently read It's Superman! by Tom de Haven. Although it deals with a young Superman uncertainly developing his powers the book gives a very detailed and involving picture of America in the Great Depression. Comic book it ain't!

I would suggest :

The Road to Los Angeles

Wait Until Spring, Bandini

Ask the Dust

Dreams from Bunker Hill

All by John Fante, I think they are all availaible in one edition called 'The Bandini Quartet' or something similar. Fante doesn't seem to be very well known in the UK but he's definately up there with Steinbeck (who I also love) IMHO...