Upton Sinclair

&&LDIV&&R&&LDIV&&R&&LDIV&&R&&LI&&RThe Jungle&&L/I&&R, by &&LSTRONG&&RUpton Sinclair&&L/B&&R, is part of the &&LI&&R&&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics&&L/I&&R &&L/I&&Rseries, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of &&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics&&L/I&&R: &&LDIV&&RNew introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. &&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics &&L/I&&Rpulls together a constellation of influences--biographical, historical, and literary--to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.&&L/DIV&&R&&L/DIV&&R&&L/DIV&&R&&LDIV&&R&&L/DIV&&R&&LDIV&&R&&LSTRONG&&R&&L/B&&R &&L/DIV&&R&&LDIV&&R&&LSTRONG&&RUpton Sinclair&&L/B&&R's muckraking masterpiece &&LI&&RThe Jungle&&L/I&&R centers on Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant working in Chicago's infamous Packingtown. Instead of finding the American Dream, Rudkus and his family inhabit a brutal, soul-crushing urban jungle dominated by greedy bosses, pitiless con-men, and corrupt politicians. &&L/DIV&&R&&LP&&RWhile Sinclair's main target was the industry's appalling labor conditions, the reading public was most outraged by the disgusting filth and contamination in American food that his novel exposed. As a result, President Theodore Roosevelt demanded an official investigation, which quickly led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug laws. For a work of fiction to have such an impact outside its literary context is extremely rare. (At the time of &&LI&&RThe Jungle&&L/I&&R's publication in 1906, the only novel to have led to social change on a similar scale in America was &&LI&&RUncle Tom's Cabin&&L/I&&R.) &&LP&&RToday, &&LI&&RThe Jungle&&L/I&&R remains a relevant portrait of capitalism at its worst and an impassioned account of the human spirit facing nearly insurmountable challenges.&&L/P&&R&&LP&&R&&LB&&RMaura Spiegel&&L/B&&R teaches literature and film at Columbia University and Barnard College. She is the coauthor of &&LI&&RThe Grim Reader and The Breast Book: An Intimate and Curious History&&L/I&&R. She coedits &&LI&&RLiterature and Medicine&&L/I&&R, a journal.&&L/P&&R&&L/DIV&&R&&L/B&&R&&L/B&&R&&L/B&&R

Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle, which inspired the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, stands as a classic of Twentieth-century American literature and social protest. In this accessible and thorough edition by Christopher Phelps, a critical introduction addresses the wide range of issues raised by the text, including early twentieth-century working conditions, immigrant community, race and gender, political reform, and the continuing relevance of Sinclair's investigation. This edition uses the most widely recognized text of The Jungle and provides an illuminating supporting document: President Theodore Roosevelt's delivery to Congress of the official report that confirmed The Jungle's shocking allegations about the Chicago meatpacking industry.