Reference Reviews

Doug’s Student Reference Room

Workers’ Rights in Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, edited by Gary Wiener. 224 p. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2008. ISBN 13: 978-0-7377-4066-0. ISBN 10: 0-7377-4066-3. $24.95.

In the introduction to this volume, Upton Sinclair is quoted as saying, “I aimed at the public’s heart and by accident hit it in the stomach.” While Sinclair vowed to write the Uncle Tom’s Cabin for the cause of what he called “wage slaves,” in fact, his novel did more to reform the meat packing industry than it did to improve working conditions. Nevertheless, Sinclair’s novel remains a testimony to the power of literature to shed light on social and political ills. Like other volumes in the fine Social Issues in Literature series, this text’s opening chapter provides a biographical backdrop, connecting themes in “The Jungle” to Sinclair’s life experience. This chapter concludes with Sinclair’s own 1950 introduction to the work he penned nearly a quarter century earlier and offers unusual insight into the author. His idealism and motivations still shine brightly, but his pride in his ability to effect change is tempered by his belief that much work remains to be done. The second chapter predominantly explores the social goals of the novel in historical context; in addition, paired essays debate the literary merits and lasting impact of the work. The final chapter offers eight essays on the relevance of “The Jungle” to today’s world, noting both progress and issues for concern, including the treatment of immigrant labor in the U.S., gender inequity in the labor force, and the global exploitation of child labor. This volume is an essential companion for U.S. history teachers, offering deeper exploration of this muckraking classic and drawing fruitful connections to today’s world. Highly recommended for high school and community college libraries.
—Doug Achterman