Oil! | Fiction - www.zzdbook.com

Oil!

Apr 21, 2026 11:32 PM

Author:Upton Sinclair

Oil!

Sinclair's 1927 novel did for California's oil industry what The Jungle did for Chicago's meat-packing factories. 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.

Reviews

The best book of its kind that this reviewer has come across in ages ... [Marian] Keyes has for years been the undisputed queen of applying the light tender touch to dark, painful subjects - well, Sinéad Moriarty is now a worthy competitor for that crown ... In My Sister's Shoes bounces with love, life and fun

—— Sunday Independent

A real talent ... Sinéad Moriarty has a gift at unwrapping a good, plausible tale and creating likeable characters that you care about

—— Irish Independent

A fabulous book ... at times touching and at others genuinely hilarious

—— Sunday Tribune

Touching ... warm-hearted

—— Irish Mail on Sunday

A tear-jerker which will have you in stitches

—— Full House

This warm, touching book is truly bittersweet - you will laugh and cry

—— My Weekly

A lovely, thought-provoking tale

—— The Sun

A funny, easy-going, heart-warming read

—— Woman

Touching and funny

—— Closer

A real talent ... Sinéad Moriarty has a gift at unwrapping a good, plausible tale and creating likeable characters that you care about

—— IRISH INDEPENDENT

A good story, flourishing characters, and the most persuasive narrative voice

—— Guardian

A classic tale of the triumph of youthful naivety over middle-aged cynicism

—— Good Book Guide

Classic coming of age novel

—— Oxford Times

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