111 pages • 3 hours read
The Jungle
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Book Brief
250
Novel • Fiction
Chicago, Illinois • 1900s
1905
Adult
18+ years
1170L
Super Short Summary
The Jungle follows Lithuanian immigrant Jurgis Rudkus and his family as they navigate the harsh realities of life in Chicago’s meatpacking district at the turn of the century, facing relentless exploitation, corruption, and tragedy, ultimately leading Jurgis towards the socialist movement as a means of fighting back against systemic injustice. Graphically depicts workplace injuries, sexual assault, and child mortality.
Gritty
Dark
Unnerving
Challenging
Informative
Reviews & Readership
152,470 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Upton Sinclair's The Jungle receives acclaim for its vivid depiction of early 20th-century immigrant life and its successful exposure of meatpacking industry abuses. Readers praise its impactful narrative and social reform impetus, yet criticize its graphic content and melodramatic tones. While influential, some find its prose challenging and overly didactic.
Who Should Read The Jungle?
Readers of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, who are interested in early 20th-century social issues, labor rights, and muckraking journalism, will find this novel compelling. Similar audiences might appreciate Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, due to its focus on social justice and the plight of the working class.
152,470 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
250
Novel • Fiction
Chicago, Illinois • 1900s
1905
Adult
18+ years
1170L
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