The Jungle

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Focusing on the harsh realities of early 20th-century Chicago, the narrative centers on Jurgis Rudkus, an immigrant navigating the brutal stockyards and the corrupt meatpacking industry. Sinclair vividly depicts the horrific working conditions and exploitation that Jurgis endures, aiming to inspire social reform. The novel's impactful message prompted significant changes in food hygiene laws, even attracting the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt. In the introduction, Russ Castronovo explores the intersection of history and fiction, questioning the book's classification as either propaganda or literature.