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Overview
Overview
It is the dawn of the twentieth century. Two young Lithuanian immigrants, Jurgis and Ona, hold their wedding celebration in Packingtown, the heart of Chicago's meatpacking district. According to custom, departing guests should give money to help pay for the party and start the newlyweds off in life. But many guests walk out leaving nothing. Ona worries about the couple's debts, but Jurgis calms her, saying, "I will work harder." Strong and confident, Jurgis begins a job in a meatpacking plant, where he bears the twelve-hour workdays, the repellent and dangerous labor conditions, and the pitifully low pay. But when his family is cheated in a housing swindle, his father is forced to turn over one-third of his pay to the man who hired him. A sprained ankle costs Jurgis his job, the American Dream that inspired him veers into nightmare, and worse is yet to come.
- Format: Hardcover
- Author: Sinclair, Upton
- ISBN: 9781566195522
- Condition: Used
- Number Of Pages: 373
- Publication Year: 1995
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An honest account of the meat industry in the 1930s
irene s. - 5 years 8 months ago#Bannedbooks this is a disturbing account of the meat factories back in the 1930s. When there was hardly any regulations, employees were placed in danger everyday while working in the factories. It was common to have a body part like a finger get chopped off by a machine that malfunctioned. Considering this, makes you wonder what else was in the processed meat besides the animal itself! It is a glimpse into the meat industry as a sweat shop. Regulations have become stricter but with mad cow disease and salmonella poisoning fears still occasionally addressed in the news over the years, how much has the meat industry have changed? -Note: My rating is based on how difficult this book was to read as it is truly vivid and honest. As literature, well written and thorough. It is just makes you question what you eat.