Oil! by Upton Sinclair, published in 1927, is a political and social novel set in early 20th-century California during the oil boom. The story follows Bunny Ross, the idealistic son of an oil tycoon, as he comes of age and begins to question the ethics of his father, J. Arnold Ross, a self-made oil magnate. As Bunny witnesses the exploitation of workers, the manipulation of politics by big business, and the growing divide between wealth and poverty, he becomes increasingly sympathetic to socialist ideals. Through Bunny’s eyes, Sinclair explores themes like capitalism, class struggle, labor rights, and corruption, particularly surrounding the Teapot Dome Scandal. The novel serves as a critique of unchecked capitalism and the moral compromises made in the pursuit of wealth. Despite its title, the book is less about oil itself and more about the human costs behind the industry.
