King Coal by Upton Sinclair (1927)

Name: King Coal
Author: Upton Sinclair

King Coal follows a young man's journey as he seeks work in a coal camp, where he confronts exploitation and violence. As he becomes involved in labor activism, he passionately advocates for miners' rights and strives to bring about change in a harsh and oppressive environment.

By Upton Sinclair · First published 1927 · Genre: Social Realism, Political Fiction, Historical Fiction · 60 chapters · 147,072 words

First lines

The town of Pedro stood on the edge of the mountain country; a straggling assemblage of stores and saloons from which a number of branch railroads ran up into the canyons, feeding the coal-camps. Through the week it slept peacefully; but on Saturday nights, when the miners came trooping down, and the ranchmen came in on horseback and in automobiles, it wakened to a seething life.

What this Textopian page supports

King Coal is listed on Textopian as a novel by Upton Sinclair, dated 1927 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Upton Sinclair
Date: 1927 CE
Language: English
Genres: Social Realism, Political Fiction, Historical Fiction, Industrial Novel, Drama
Length: 147,072 words
Structure: 119 chapters, 2,849 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Discussion starters

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How does this novel by Upton Sinclair fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Social Realism first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Social Realism — The book explores the harsh realities of coal mining and the struggles of workers, highlighting social issues.
Political Fiction — It critiques capitalism and advocates for labor rights, reflecting political themes.
Historical Fiction — Set in the early 20th century, it provides a historical context of the coal industry and labor movements.
Industrial Novel — Focuses on the impact of industrialization on society and the environment.