The Jungle
by Upton Sinclair
Sinclair's upton masterpiece focuses on Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant who works in Chicago's notorious Packingtown. Instead of finding the American dream, Rudkus and his family live in the ruthless, soul-destroying urban jungle dominated by greedy bosses, ruthless swindlers, and corrupt politicians. While Sinclair's main goal was the dire working conditions in the industry, the reading public was most outraged by the evils and pollution of American food that his novel uncovered. As a result, President Theodore Roosevelt demanded a formal investigation, which led to the rapid adoption of laws on clean food and medicine. For a work of art, it is extremely rare to have such an impact outside of its literary context. Today, "The Jungle" remains a portrait of capitalism at its worst, and an unbiased explanation of the human spirit, which faces almost insurmountable challenges.
