‘Oil!’ is Nobel Prize-winner Upton Sinclair’s brilliant satirical take on the American oil industry. The early portions of the book formed the basis for the Oscar-winning film ‘They Will Be Blood.’
Based on historical events, including the Teapot Dome Scandal (a bribery allegation about improper leasing of federal oil fields that involved U.S. President Warren G. Harding), ‘Oil!’ is a powerful social and political satire featuring a classic tug-of-war between generations: self-made oil tycoon – John Arnold Ross – and his son, James Jr. (nicknamed ‘Bunny’). The father wants to continue to build the family’s fortune while the son grows more and more concerned with the lives and well-being of the workers. Along the way, we meet shady Senators, labor organizers, Soviet agents, oil magnates and a full cast of characters that bring this breathtaking book to life.
Originally banned for it’s controversial and powerful message, ‘Oil!’ is presented here in its original and unabridged format.
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Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. (1878 – 1968) was an American novelist, political activist and one of a group of early 20th century writers known as ‘muckrakers’ (reform-minded journalists who exposed corruption). Best known for his novel ‘The Jungle, ‘ which tackled the American meat-packing industry and brought to light the exploitation of labor and poor sanitary conditions rampant in the trade, Sinclair was also active in politics (becoming the 1934 Democratic Party nominee for governor of California) and later won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1943. Many of Sinclair’s books resulted in both corporate and government action to clean up whatever ethical misdeeds Sinclair highlighted in his work. During his career, he took on the coal industry, oil production and auto manufacturing (among others), revealing the misconduct (and thereby antagonizing) some of the corporate titans of the day, including Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller. An avowed (and loud) socialist, Sinclair ran unsuccessfully political office, first for Congress as a nominee from the Socialist Party and then as the Democratic Party candidate for governor of California, running under the banner of the End Poverty in California campaign. During the 1940’s, Sinclair completed a series of eleven novels featuring a character named Lanny Budd, a ‘Zelig’- or ‘Forrest Gump’-type character who often finds himself at the center of historical events. The third book in the series, ‘Dragon Teeth’ won Sinclair the 1943 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Both an accomplished writer and committed social activist (sometimes both at once), Upton Sinclair was a singular and celebrated figure of 20th century letters and his writing is responsible for countless social, economic and industry reforms. Sinclair died in 1968 at age ninety, shortly after the death of his third wife.Aynı yazardan daha fazla e-kitap / Editör
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