Oil! by Upton Sinclair (1927)

Name: Oil!
Author: Upton Sinclair

Oil! by Upton Sinclair explores the life of Bunny as he navigates the complexities of the oil business and young love during the oil boom, revealing the stark contrasts between wealth and poverty, ambition and morality. As Bunny grapples with his identity and the expectations of his father's ambitions, he finds himself torn between the carefree dreams of youth and the harsh realities of his family's empire.

By Upton Sinclair · First published 1927 · Genre: Social Realism, Political Fiction, Historical Fiction · 60 chapters · 258,627 words

First lines

The road ran, smooth and flawless, precisely fourteen feet wide, the edges trimmed as if by shears, a ribbon of grey concrete, rolled out over the valley by a giant hand. The ground went in long waves, a slow ascent and then a sudden dip; you climbed, and went swiftly over -- but you had no fear, for you knew the magic ribbon would be there, clear of obstructions, unmarred by bump or scar, waiting the passage of inflated rubber wheels revolving seven times a second. The cold wind of morning whistled by, a storm of motion, a humming and roaring with ever-shifting overtones; but you sat snug behind a tilted windshield, which slid the gale up over your head. Sometimes you liked to put your hand up, and feel the cold impact; sometimes you would peer around the side of the shield, and let the torrent hit your forehead, and toss your hair about. But for the most part you sat silent and dignified -- because that was Dad's way, and Dad's way constituted the ethics of motoring.

What this Textopian page supports

Oil! 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, Drama, Satire
Length: 258,627 words
Structure: 214 chapters, 2,458 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Oil! by Upton Sinclair
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Oil!?
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 novel explores the social and economic impacts of the oil industry on society.
Political Fiction — It critiques capitalism and the political machinations surrounding the oil industry.
Historical Fiction — The narrative is set against the backdrop of early 20th-century California oil boom.
Drama — The book features intense character conflicts and moral dilemmas.