The Jungle

Sinclair intended The Jungle to highlight the grim reality of life as an immigrant in America, but the general public were more affected by his realistic depiction of the meatpacking industry in Chicago, leading to rapid reform – the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act were passed shortly after, strictly regulating standards within the business.

Upton Sinclair was an American journalist, novelist and politician. His novels often focused on real, pressing issues with society – for example, The Jungle exposed substandard conditions in the meat industry and The Brass Check exposed the issue of large-scale yellow journalism in America. His books were written during the Progressive Era of America, a time of political upheaval and major sociopolitical reform, addressing problems caused by industrialization and urbanization.