In 1906 Doubleday published a fictional novel based on reality and focusing on the lives of immigrants in Chicago's meatpacking district. “The Jungle” was written by Upton Sinclair, a 27-year-old Baltimore author with a $500 advance from a socialist newspaper. This novel soon became the center of controversy and change in the United States. Although known more for its horrific portrayal of conditions inside slaughterhouses, only 60 pages of the 413 pages that make up "The Jungle" detail what goes on in the meatpacking industry. Sinclair's book was intended to be a political and social commentary on the working-class condition at the turn of the century. Strangely, the story opens with a wedding. The protagonist, Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant, marries Ona Lukoszaite. Even on this joyous day, the outlook seems bleak for this young couple. While many came to celebrate, few brought the traditional gift of money to help the couple start their lives. This theme of economic hardship that develops in the first five minutes of reading will continue as a premise throughout the rest of the story. The chronology of the book is somewhat convoluted as the focus now shifts to when Jurgis first looks for work. in Chicago's meatpacking district. Nicknamed “Packingtown,” these employers reveal only a small glimpse of the industry to the public and potential employees. Companies make outlandish claims saying they "use everything about the pig except the squeal!" This leads Jurgis to feel proud and confident in his choice to join this industry. He has a feeling that the American dream that was passed on to him is indeed true and that he can succeed in the new world. I have... middle of paper... despite losing to John Galsworthy. His work inspired three major pieces of food safety legislation and earned him two trips to the White House six decades apart. He campaigned unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Congress, and the Governorship of California. The images his words provided in "The Jungle" left America with an angry voice and a sick stomach, and his work likely won't be forgotten. Works CitedDeGruson, G. (1988) Twentieth Century Literary Criticism. Retrieved March 21, 2010, from http://www.enotes.com/twentieth-century-criticism/jungle-upton-sinclair/gene-degruson-essay-date-1988McDowell, E. (1988, August 22). Sinclair Jungle with all the manure restored. New York Times, C15.Sinclair, United States (1906). The jungle. Chicago: Doubleday.Wasowski, R. (2001). Sinclair's Principles of Socialism.