Upton Sinclair
Biography
Upton Sinclair (1878–1968) was an American novelist and political activist who used fiction as a weapon for social reform. Born in Baltimore, he wrote nearly a hundred books, but is best known for The Jungle (1906), his expóse of the meatpacking industry that led directly to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act. Sinclair ran for governor of California in 1934 on a socialist platform and continued to write muckraking novels about industries from oil to coal. His work represents the high point of American literary activism.
Common themes in Upton Sinclair's work
Muckraking fiction
A recurring theme throughout Upton Sinclair's writing.
Social reform
A recurring theme throughout Upton Sinclair's writing.
American labor
A recurring theme throughout Upton Sinclair's writing.
Corporate exploitation
A recurring theme throughout Upton Sinclair's writing.
Books
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Why Upton Sinclair is still read today
Sinclair’s novels of social protest changed American law and remain powerful studies of corporate exploitation. On TextStack you can read Sinclair’s major works free online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Upton Sinclair?
Upton Sinclair (1878–1968) was an American muckraking novelist whose book The Jungle exposed the meatpacking industry and led to food safety legislation.
Where can I read Sinclair online?
You can read The Jungle, Oil!, and King Coal free online on TextStack.
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