Oil! by Upton Sinclair
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Book Reviews of Oil!
Book Review: Communism from a 1927 perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
"Oil" may be the title of Upton Sinclair's expansive work of historical fiction first published in 1927, but the meat of the novel is about the incipient titanic struggle between Communism and Capitalism dating to the closing days of World War I. In Sinclair's view (one which has largely been censored from popular views of American history), Russian Bolsheviks quickly became the nemesis of American and European Capitalism. Efforts at "containment" started immediately after the war with the maintenance of a large American garrison in Vladivostok to protect the railway and munitions assets of J.P. Morgan that were securing a loan to the British government. According to Sinclair, the U.S. government also financed and encouraged multiple mercenary armies (most notably in Poland) along the Russian borders in an effort to neutralize the Communist takeover. This was all done at the behest of "big business" interests in the U.S. who expected that our armed forces would protect them and their assets anywhere in the world. This is one of the main threads that Sinclair continues to develop for the remainder of the novel. The author is remarkable in his ability delineate the opposing viewpoints in this monumental battle which has affected so many of the events of the past 70 years. Here's a prescient quote from 1927. "You really think there'll be another war, Paul?" "Paul answered that armaments produce wars automatically; the capitalists who make the armaments have to see that they are used, in order to get to make more. Bunny said that the idea of another war seemed too horrible to think about; and Paul replied, "So you don't think about it, and that makes it easy for the business men to get it ready" In view of our current involvement in the Middle East, one has to wonder when if ever we will be able to get onto a different path forward.Book Review: An enthralling, epic piece of muckraking literature
Summary: 5 Stars
I came to "Oil!" for two reasons. One, I had recently read "The Jungle," and became enamored with Sinclair's wit and prose; two, I had watched "There Will Be Blood," and found it such a thought-provoking film that I had better read the book that inspired it. (This tactic worked recently for me, with "Blood's" ideological counterpart "No Country Old Men", which got me hooked on the writing of Cormac McCarthy.)
I hesitate to throw out a disclaimer, but I must assume that many potential readers will come to this book through the movie, so I have to say it: The book is nothing like the film (which directer Paul Thomas Anderson has stated); the movie gets its start from the first few pages of "Oil!"; which means, since there's over 500 pages left, that there's quite a bit of story yet to tell.
I say this simply as a disclaimer. By all means, buy the book and read it. Upton Sinclair was known for his Socialist sympathies ("Oil!", like "The Jungle," reads like a Socialist manifesto), but what interests me about his writing is how his prose is still poetic and witty. Yes, there are some political points that, now having experienced WWII and the Cold War, seem dated; but in 1927, Sinclair was a borderline-revolutionary, and his Socialist sympathies put him in danger. He managed to convey that fear to "Oil!", which details an oil tycoon's son, as he slips into the Socialist world and ends up fighting the industry that made his dad a success. I wouldn't say "Oil!" is as cutting-edge as "The Jungle" was, but it certainly is a social commentary/satire that cuts straight to the bone of American capitalism. Written eighty years ago, it still holds power today; if that isn't a sign of great literature, then I just don't know what is.
Book Review: Great Story - Easy to Read
Summary: 5 Stars
After the first chapter this book takes off. The story chronicles the tale of a father and son. Or is it the story of oil development in Southern California, or perhaps a the story which pits labor vs. business? Well it is all of that and much more. His tale is finely woven with elements from early parts of the story coming back which wraps the story very tightly. This authors style reminds me very much of James Michener. For me when a story is good I am able to imagine the actors that would portray the parts. In this story I imagined Brian Denehy as the father and Matt Dillon as the son. To keep the story fictitious the author uses "Angel City" and vicinity as the setting, but you easily convert all of Southern California in your mind. Since the story is very much about a father and son relationship, I see this a very male oriented book. But there are also themes of greed, love, jealousy, and alturisum. It will now be interesting to see the movie. UPDATE: I saw the movie and it didn't even come close in doing justice to the book, the book is soooooo much better.Book Review: Highly Entertaining!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought "Oil" because I really enjoyed "The Jungle." I didn't expect the book to be like the movie (which I personally thought was boring and pointless, but that's beside the point) and I wasn't disappointed. "Oil" is much more interesting in its complexity; the father in the book is neither a villian nor a hero, he just wants to do the "right thing" according to his own set of morals ... and he is not helped by his son, who questions everything as young people just beginning to discover the "world beyond the front porch" often do. Upton Sinclair does an excellent job of character development and expertly weaves together the lives of his many characters -- including one millionaire who lives with his actress girlfriend in a mansion high on a hill overlooking Pacific Ocean; methinks this person was loosely based on a real-life newspaper magnate? :-)Book Review: Enjoyable Story from 80 Years Ago
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great fictional story based on the real life of Edward Doheny, who was from my home town of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Doheny was a larger than life character and is well known in California.
I somehow missed reading any of Upton Sinclair's work over the years and now I know what I have missed. This is a fast moving story that tells of the early years, and greed, of the oil industry. Sinclair's descriptions are so real that I can smell the orange groves and the oil from a gusher and his characters are portrayed as real people. This is a very informative and enjoyable read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the oil industry in California.