The Jungle
Upton Sinclair
It is the end of the 19th century. Like thousands of others, the Rudkus family has emigrated from Lithuania to America in search of a better life. As they settle into the Packingtown neighborhood of Chicago, they find their dreams are unlikely to be realized. In fact, just the opposite is quite likely to occur. Jurgis, the main character of the novel, has brought his father Antanas, his fiancée Ona, her stepmother Teta Elzbieta, Teta Elzbieta's brother Jonas and her six children, and Ona's cousin Marija Berczynskas along. The family, naïve to the ways of Chicago, quickly falls prey to con men and makes a series of bad decisions that lead them into wretched poverty and terrible living conditions. All are forced to find jobs in dismal working conditions for their very survival. Jurgis, broken and discouraged, eventually finds solace in the American Socialist movement.
This novel was written during a period in American history when “Trusts” were formed by multiple corporations to establish monopolies that stifled competition and fixed prices. Unthinkable working conditions and unfair business practices were the norm. The Jungle’s author, Upton Sinclair, was an ardent Socialist of the time. Sinclair was commissioned by the “Appeal To Reason”, a Socialist journal of the period, to write a fictional expose on the working conditions of the immigrant laborers in the meat packing industry in Chicago. Going undercover, Sinclair spent seven weeks inside the meatpacking plants gathering details for his novel.
The Reader wishes to gratefully acknowledge the assistance, and patience, of Professor Giedrius Subacius (University of Illinois) and the folks at Lituanus for their invaluable support as I struggled with Lithuanian pronunciations. Truly, this audio book would have been far more difficult, and far less authentic, without their help.
And now, feel free to wander into The Jungle…….(Summary by Tom Weiss)
Author - Upton Sinclair.
Narrator - LibriVox Community.
Published Date - Thursday, 19 January 2023.
Location:
United States
Description:
It is the end of the 19th century. Like thousands of others, the Rudkus family has emigrated from Lithuania to America in search of a better life. As they settle into the Packingtown neighborhood of Chicago, they find their dreams are unlikely to be realized. In fact, just the opposite is quite likely to occur. Jurgis, the main character of the novel, has brought his father Antanas, his fiancée Ona, her stepmother Teta Elzbieta, Teta Elzbieta's brother Jonas and her six children, and Ona's cousin Marija Berczynskas along. The family, naïve to the ways of Chicago, quickly falls prey to con men and makes a series of bad decisions that lead them into wretched poverty and terrible living conditions. All are forced to find jobs in dismal working conditions for their very survival. Jurgis, broken and discouraged, eventually finds solace in the American Socialist movement. This novel was written during a period in American history when “Trusts” were formed by multiple corporations to establish monopolies that stifled competition and fixed prices. Unthinkable working conditions and unfair business practices were the norm. The Jungle’s author, Upton Sinclair, was an ardent Socialist of the time. Sinclair was commissioned by the “Appeal To Reason”, a Socialist journal of the period, to write a fictional expose on the working conditions of the immigrant laborers in the meat packing industry in Chicago. Going undercover, Sinclair spent seven weeks inside the meatpacking plants gathering details for his novel. The Reader wishes to gratefully acknowledge the assistance, and patience, of Professor Giedrius Subacius (University of Illinois) and the folks at Lituanus for their invaluable support as I struggled with Lithuanian pronunciations. Truly, this audio book would have been far more difficult, and far less authentic, without their help. And now, feel free to wander into The Jungle…….(Summary by Tom Weiss) Author - Upton Sinclair. Narrator - LibriVox Community. Published Date - Thursday, 19 January 2023.
Language:
English
Chapter 1
Duration:00:56:53
Chapter 2
Duration:00:27:37
Chapter 3
Duration:00:32:59
Chapter 4
Duration:00:33:16
Chapter 5
Duration:00:27:30
Chapter 6
Duration:00:26:31
Chapter 7
Duration:00:30:02
Chapter 8
Duration:00:20:49
Chapter 9
Duration:00:25:21
Chapter 10
Duration:00:27:04
Chapter 11
Duration:00:26:31
Chapter 12
Duration:00:20:01
Chapter 13
Duration:00:22:33
Chapter 14
Duration:00:20:11
Chapter 15
Duration:00:35:33
Chapter 16
Duration:00:24:42
Chapter 17
Duration:00:26:09
Chapter 18
Duration:00:27:05
Chapter 19
Duration:00:25:22
Chapter 20
Duration:00:27:38
Chapter 21
Duration:00:25:54
Chapter 22
Duration:00:29:56
Chapter 23
Duration:00:27:13
Chapter 24
Duration:00:31:03
Chapter 25
Duration:00:51:08
Chapter 26
Duration:00:44:41
Chapter 27
Duration:00:37:45
Chapter 28
Duration:00:40:40
Chapter 29
Duration:00:24:48
Chapter 30
Duration:00:33:20
Chapter 31
Duration:00:48:23