Author:Upton Sinclair Availability:
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Editorial Review:
In Oil! Upton Sinclair fashioned a novel out of the oil scandals of the Harding administration, providing in the process a detailed picture of the development of the oil industry in Southern California. Bribery of public officials, class warfare, and international rivalry over oil production are the context for Sinclair's story of a genial independent oil developer and his son, whose sympathy with the oilfield workers and socialist organizers fuels a running debate with his father. Senators, small investors, oil magnates, a Hollywood film star, and a crusading evangelist people the pages of this lively novel.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
intellectual treat:
The handling of social issues was much more diverse than the movie "There Will Be Blood." The oil man is not nearly as bad in the book, but the industry is a pathetic mess.
Great Story, but a long listen:
I purchased the audiobook version of 'Oil', because I remembered enjoying reading 'The Jungle' in High School. This was a good story, and even though it is set in Southern California in the 1920's the story largely transcends time. However, and this is a big however it was VERY detailed, so much so that it detracted from the story and was too long to listen to it (20+ hours). Go with the abridged version if it is available.
From Oil in the 1920s to Washington and Wall Street Today:
Though set in the California oil fields of the 1920s, the great Upton Sinclair's classic "Oil!" is as relevant and meaningful(aka "alarming" and "frightening")today as it was when it was written more than 80 years ago. The characters are great, well written and well developed, coming off the pages in living technicolor. You get to know these people, care about some, empathize with few and dispise others. But the issue, the real isue, is the buying of government and greed. Greed with a capital... more info
Dad Liked It:
I bought this for my Dad and he said he really liked it and highly reccomended it to me to borrow from him.
