The Flivver King: A Story of Ford-America
by Upton Sinclair
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This novel describes the working class day-to-day struggle for economic justice. The book was written in 1937 to aid the formation of the 'United Auto Workers' (UAW). It is a continuation of Sinclair's famous novel "The Jungle". Again, this novel depicts how alienated work not only brings degradation to workers, but is the motivation for resistance and finally revolt. Great balls of fire - Brothers The novel turns out to be a historical documewnt of the first four decades of the 20th show more Century. The story is told from two conflicting views: That of Henry Ford and one of his workers. As we begin the 21st Century it is as important as ever for the American working and middle class to understand the roots of the American Labor Movement, especially the UAW. A must read for members of the UAW A Collector's Edition. show lessTags
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A close look at Henry Ford, a man who started out to make a better world by creating mobility for the working person, paying higher wages, and, by his standards, at least, working for a better world. But as his wealth grew, he became more and more separated from his workers and the better world he had hoped to build. As his fortune grew, he became a selfish, self-centered and bitter man who surrounded himself with an army of thugs to keep his workers in line, while he hobnobbed with the rich and famous. The Irony was that he still believed he was close to working people and a great boss. He wasn't, he was anti-union, anti-socialist, and antisemite. A pacifist who stood for the Nazis, but without an understanding of their democracy show more destroying ideals and methods. He put the less than wealthy on wheels, but caught up in his legend, he became aloof and unwilling to listen to anyone's advice. Positive that the model T was perfect, he almost destroyed all he had accomplished, as the world began to pass him by. Yes, he moved on just in time, pushed by people in his inner circle. Henry never regained his early ideals and remained a stubborn, self-centered, and aloof man, cut of from all that had made him an American hero. show less
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246+ Works 22,069 Members
Upton Sinclair, a lifelong vigorous socialist, first became well known with a powerful muckraking novel, The Jungle, in 1906. Refused by five publishers and finally published by Sinclair himself, it became an immediate bestseller, and inspired a government investigation of the Chicago stockyards, which led to much reform. In 1967 he was invited by show more President Lyndon Johnson to "witness the signing of the Wholesome Meat Act, which will gradually plug loopholes left by the first Federal meat inspection law" (N.Y. Times), a law Sinclair had helped to bring about. Newspapers, colleges, schools, churches, and industries have all been the subject of a Sinclair attack, analyzing and exposing their evils. Sinclair was not really a novelist, but a fearless and indefatigable journalist-crusader. All his early books are propaganda for his social reforms. When regular publishers boycotted his work, he published himself, usually at a financial loss. His 80 or so books have been translated into 47 languages, and his sales abroad, especially in the former Soviet Union, have been enormous. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- People/Characters
- Henry Ford
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- Reviews
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