About the book

"Oil!" by Upton Sinclair is a novel published in 1926–27. Set against the backdrop of the Teapot Dome scandal in Southern California, this social and political satire follows Bunny Ross, son of an oil tycoon, as he grapples with conflicting loyalties. Torn between his father's cutthroat business practices and his growing sympathy for workers and socialist ideals, Bunny navigates family tensions, labor strikes, and political corruption. The story explores wealth, justice, and the moral costs of American capitalism.

Political fiction

Motion picture industry

Petroleum industry and trade

California, Southern

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #70379. Oil! on Wikipedia.