In this 1st episode of Season 4, we read a book whose original version has never been seen. The Jungle that we know, by Upton Sinclair, is the version that was highly censored because of its political context. To gather information for this novel, Sinclair spent seven weeks undercover working in the meat packing plants of Chicago, ultimately exposing the horrific conditions in the U.S. meat packing industry, that led to the passage a few months later of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.
The main reason for the censorship, however, as Sinclair’s belief in socialism. It’s at that point that Dan and I start to goof in good old Upton Sincy. It’ll make sense why if you manage to make it to that point in the pod.
We hope you enjoy!
Episode Notes
0-5 min — Introduction
5-10 min — About the author / Casting
10-25 min — Plot summary
25-30 min — Corruption in 20th-century Chicago
30-35 min — Deep fakes and post-truth
35-45 min — On socialism through history
45-49 min — The Jungle vs Grapes of Wrath
49-55 min — Closing