King Coal

King Coal, published in 1917, is Upton Sinclair’s exposé of the harsh realities faced by coal miners in early 20th-century Colorado. The novel follows Hal Warner, a wealthy college student who goes undercover to investigate labor conditions in the mines. Witnessing exploitation, corruption, and violence, Hal’s journey becomes a scathing critique of capitalism and class inequality. Like The Jungle, this novel blends journalism with fiction to fuel social reform. King Coal is a powerful call for labor rights and remains relevant in discussions of economic justice.