The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (1906)

Name: The Jungle
Author: Upton Sinclair

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair portrays the harrowing experiences of an immigrant family in Chicago's stockyards, exposing the brutal realities of labor exploitation, poverty, and the disillusionment of the American Dream. Through their struggles, the narrative highlights the dangers and injustices faced by workers in a profit-driven society.

By Upton Sinclair · First published 1906 · Genre: Social Realism, Political Fiction, Historical Fiction · 31 chapters · 175,020 words

First lines

It was four o'clock when the ceremony was over and the carriages began to arrive. There had been a crowd following all the way, owing to the exuberance of Marija Berczynskas. The occasion rested heavily upon Marija's broad shoulders -- it was her task to see that all things went in due form, and after the best home traditions; and, flying wildly hither and thither, bowling everyone out of the way, and scolding and exhorting all day with her tremendous voice, Marija was too eager to see that others conformed to the proprieties to consider them herself. She had left the church last of all, and, desiring to arrive first at the hall, had issued orders to the coachman to drive faster. When that personage had developed a will of his own in the matter, Marija had flung up the window of the carriage, and, leaning out, proceeded to tell him her opinion of him, first in Lithuanian, which he did not understand, and then in Polish, which he did. Having the advantage of her in altitude, the driver had stood his ground and even ventured to attempt to speak; and the result had been a furious altercation, which, continuing all the way down Ashland Avenue, had added a new swarm of urchins to the cortege at each side street for half a mile.

What this Textopian page supports

The Jungle is listed on Textopian as a novel by Upton Sinclair, dated 1906 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: 1906 CE
Language: English
Genres: Social Realism, Political Fiction, Historical Fiction, Naturalism, Drama
Length: 175,020 words
Structure: 31 chapters, 1,509 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Social Realism — The book exposes the harsh realities of life for immigrants and the working class in early 20th-century America.
Political Fiction — It critiques capitalism and advocates for socialism, reflecting the author's political beliefs.
Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a specific historical context, depicting the conditions of the meatpacking industry during the Progressive Era.
Naturalism — The characters are portrayed as products of their environment, emphasizing the influence of socioeconomic factors on human behavior.