King Coal

Introduction by Georg Brandes

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"King Coal: a novel by Upton Sinclair" is a novel published in 1917 that exposes the brutal working conditions in western American coal mines during the 1910s. Based on the 1913-1914 Colorado coal strikes, it follows wealthy young Hal Warner, who disguises himself as "Joe Smith" to work undercover in the mines. There he witnesses exploitation, corruption, and dangerous conditions firsthand. When a mining disaster strikes, Hal must choose between his privileged life and the workers' struggle for justice and dignity.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.