The Jungle

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is a powerful exposé of the American meatpacking industry in the early 20th century. Through the story of Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant facing brutal working conditions and exploitation in Chicago’s stockyards, Sinclair unveils the harsh realities of industrial capitalism. Originally intended to promote socialism, the novel led to major reforms in food safety. It remains a landmark in muckraking journalism and labor rights literature.