Upton Sinclair

American writer of some 90 books, who received the Pulitzer Prize in 1943 for his book, "Dragon’s Teeth." One of his most famous books, "The Jungle," 1906, caused such a public uproar that it resulted in two new laws, the Pure Food and Drugs Act and the Meat Inspection Act, both enacted in 1906.

The Sinclair family had its roots in the ruined Southern aristocracy. His father, a liquor salesman, was an alcoholic, and his disease coupled with the family’s poverty overshadowed much of Upton’s early life. However, he spent part of his childhood living with his wealthy grandparents, and the extremes that he experienced reportedly influenced him to later become a socialist. In 1888, his family moved to New York. A religious boy who loved literature, Upton did well academically, and when he was 14, he entered New York City College. At 15, he began writing dime novels and ethnic jokes to pay for his studies. In 1897, he enrolled at Columbia University, again paying his way by writing.

His first novel, "Springtime and Harvest," was published in 1901, followed in 1903 by "The Journal of Arthur Stirling." Three more novels were published between 1903 and 1906, but all sold poorly. His fame came with the publication of "The Jungle," and the proceeds from its sales were used to establish a commune for left-wing writers called the Helicon Home Colony; within a year, it was destroyed by fire. Now nationally known, Sinclair ran for Congress in New Jersey on the Socialist Party ticket but was unsuccessful. Disagreements over the cause of World War I eventually split the Party, and Sinclair resigned.

In 1914, he moved to Croton-on-Hudson, New York where he joined a community of radicals, but the following year, he relocated again, this time to Pasadena, California. He continued to write politically based novels as well as books about religion and education through 1924.