Oil!

First published in 1927, "Oil!" is an unflinching portrayal of greed and betrayal by Pulitzer Prize winning author Upton Sinclair. Famous for his groundbreaking work "The Jungle", which exposed the horribly unsafe conditions in the American meatpacking industry, Sinclair turned his critical eye toward the immorality of the emerging oil-drilling business. Set in Southern California and inspired by the Teapot Dome Scandal, "Oil!" follows the fortunes of the Ross and Watkins families as they clash over property rights and the unionization of the oil workers. Bunny Ross is torn between loyalty to his family and his friendship with Paul and Ruth Watkins, as he becomes increasingly uneasy with his father's relentless greed and unethical business practices. Set amidst a backdrop of entertaining, lively, and well-drawn characters, Bunny must ultimately decide if he will side with kindness and humanity over his family and their love of power and wealth. "Oil!" has endured as one of Sinclair's most readable and absorbing works and its themes of corporate corruption and cruelty remain as relevant as ever today. This edition includes a biographical afterword.