Subject
Social problems -- Fiction Books
Best books
Charles Dickens
Hard Times
"Hard Times" by Charles Dickens is a novel first published in 1854. Set in the fictional industrial town of Coketown, it satirizes the harsh social and economic conditions of Victorian England. The story follows the rigid utilitarian Thomas Gradgrind, his children Louisa and Tom, the boastful factory owner Josiah Bounderby, and the struggling mill worker Stephen Blackpool. Through their intersecting lives, Dickens examines the grinding divide between wealthy capitalists and exploited workers in post-Industrial Revolution society, questioning whether facts alone can sustain human happiness.
Edward Bellamy
Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887
"Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887" by Edward Bellamy is a utopian science fiction novel published in 1888. When Julian West falls into a hypnotic sleep in 1887 Boston, he awakens 113 years later to find America transformed into a socialist utopia. Through conversations with his guide, Doctor Leete, West discovers a radically reimagined society where industry is nationalized, goods are equally distributed, and citizens retire at 45. This bestselling novel sparked a political mass movement and inspired over 162 discussion clubs across America.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Die Wahlverwandtschaften
"Die Wahlverwandtschaften" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a novel published in 1809. It tells the story of married couple Charlotte and Eduard, whose secluded life together unravels when two guests arrive at their estate. Like a chemical reaction, new attractions form: Charlotte drawn to the capable Captain Otto, Eduard to the young and quietly charming Ottilie. The conflict between desire and reason spirals into chaos, leading toward tragic consequences in this work exploring passion, duty, and renunciation.
John Dos Passos
Manhattan Transfer
"Manhattan Transfer" by John Dos Passos is a novel published in 1925. It captures the transformation of New York City from the Gilded Age to the Jazz Age through overlapping stories of diverse characters struggling to survive in the metropolis. Using experimental techniques inspired by Joyce and Eliot, Dos Passos creates a fragmented portrait of urban life—a restless, merciless city teeming with strivers, winners, and losers. Their intersecting tales reveal the consumerism and social indifference of modern Manhattan.
Harriet Martineau
Illustrations of political economy, Volume 3 (of 9)
"Illustrations of Political Economy, Volume 3" by Harriet Martineau is a collection of socio-political texts written in the early 19th century. This volume features three separate works exploring issues related to labor relations and economic challenges in industrial society, highlighting themes such as strikes and the plight of workers. Martineau's insightful critiques focus on the struggles of the working class, particularly in the context of a Manchester strike, encapsulating the tensions between workers and employers. The opening portion of this volume introduces readers to a group of factory workers in Manchester, revealing their struggles as they grapple with reduced wages and labor conditions. The focus is on Allen, one of the workers, who tries to provide for his family amidst economic hardship and tension within the community. As the narrative unfolds, it depicts the interactions between workers considering a strike for better wages and the harsh realities they face, including family responsibilities and the conflicting desires of their comrades. The chapter illustrates the complex dynamics of labor organization and the socio-economic environment of the time, setting the stage for a broader discussion on political economy and workers' rights.
Harriet Martineau
Illustrations of political economy, Volume 1 (of 9)
"Illustrations of Political Economy, Volume 1 (of 9)" by Harriet Martineau is a collection of socio-economic narratives written in the early 19th century. The volume aims to explain the principles of political economy through character-driven stories, emphasizing the importance of understanding wealth and labor in society. Martineau seeks to make economic theories accessible to the general public by illustrating these concepts through the experiences of various characters facing diverse challenges. The opening of the volume introduces a British settlement in southern Africa facing devastation after a savage attack leaves its inhabitants in dire straits. The settlers, so recently prosperous, now gather to discuss their plan for survival and how they can rebuild their lives. Key figures, such as Captain Adams and Mr. and Mrs. Stone, emerge as leaders, grappling with their losses and the need for collaboration. They engage in prayer to find strength and camaraderie, reflecting on both the immediate need for food and shelter, as well as the larger questions regarding the nature of wealth and how labor can be organized to overcome their challenges. Through this narrative, Martineau establishes a framework for exploring the dynamics of labor, production, and the economics of community life.
Harriet Martineau
Illustrations of political economy, Volume 8 (of 9)
"Illustrations of Political Economy, Volume 8" by Harriet Martineau is a collection of narratives that explores economic concepts through fictional tales, written in the early 19th century. This volume features stories that tackle various aspects of political economy while shedding light on societal issues of the era. With characters such as Dr. Sneyd, a philosopher, and young Temple Temple, the heir to a local estate, the text delves into personal struggles intertwined with broader economic themes. The opening of this volume introduces readers to the village of Briery Creek and centers on Dr. Sneyd, who is eager for news from England amid the isolation brought by delayed mail. As he engages in his scientific studies, he is joined by his grandson, Temmy, in a search for his missing wife, which leads them to reflect on the local community's dynamics. The narrative captures the anticipation of communication about political developments and personal connections while also portraying the everyday life and economic trials faced by the villagers, particularly in the context of a recent accident involving a post-wagon. Overall, this beginning sets a tone of contemplation, blending personal and public spheres as it engages readers with its themes of economy and society.
William Allen White
A Certain Rich Man
"A Certain Rich Man" by William Allen White is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set against the backdrop of a small town in Kansas during the tumultuous years leading up to and including the Civil War. The narrative focuses on young John Barclay, his childhood adventures, and the unfolding drama as his community grapples with issues of freedom and conflict, particularly through the relationships with key figures like Philemon Ward and the dynamics of the war. At the start of the novel, the reader is introduced to a group of boys at play in the woods, unaware of the historical significance surrounding their actions. John Barclay is depicted as a free-spirited child who enjoys imaginative games, evoking innocence amidst the larger conflicts brewing around him. The narrative quickly shifts to a pivotal moment in John’s life as he encounters a band of Indians, setting the stage for subsequent reflections on migration, freedom, and the personal cost of war. His experiences are colored by memories of his father’s abolitionist beliefs and the struggles faced by his mother, weaving a rich tapestry of familial bonds, community spirit, and the moral questions surrounding the Civil War.
Harriet Martineau
Illustrations of political economy, Volume 4 (of 9)
"Illustrations of Political Economy, Volume 4" by Harriet Martineau is a collection of political and social essays written in the early 19th century. The volume examines various facets of poverty and labor in England, specifically focusing on the plight of the agricultural working class in Kent and the societal challenges they face. Through the use of narratives, Martineau explores the dynamics between poverty, crime, and the struggles for livelihood in a rapidly changing society. At the start of the volume, the narrative introduces Mr. Castle, a laborer living in the impoverished parish of A—— in Kent. The chapter highlights the stark contrast between the county's fertile appearance and the abject poverty experienced by its inhabitants, especially amidst the ongoing struggles of the Castle family. As Mr. Castle grapples with the difficulties of providing for his family while facing societal disdain due to his destitution, the narrative sets a poignant stage for discussions on emigration and economic opportunity. Frank, Castle’s son, explores the possibility of moving to Van Diemen's Land for a better life, emphasizing themes of hope and the search for new beginnings in the face of adversity.
Fannie Hurst
Lummox
"Lummox" by Fannie Hurst is a novel written in the early 20th century. It centers on Bertha, a big, working-class domestic servant in New York whose awkward speech masks a deep, lyrical inner life. Through her, the story explores class, exploitation, longing, and the clash between brute labor and refined art, particularly in her orbit around the Farley household and its poet son, Rollo. The opening of the novel follows Bertha from her rough Front Street origins and loveless upbringing under Annie Wennerberg into six grinding years as the Farleys’ cook in Gramercy Park. Quietly enraptured by beauty—music, words, fabrics—she is noticed and briefly embraced by Rollo, who later turns her into poetry while pursuing a society debutante. When Bertha becomes pregnant and cannot make him acknowledge it, she leaves, drifts back to Front Street, and endures humiliating employment searches before taking night work as a charwoman. She gives birth suddenly and, destitute, surrenders the child to a respectable couple for adoption, then resumes her precarious round of jobs—her vast, mute inner life intact amid the city’s indifference.
Ignatius Donnelly
Cæsar's Column: A Story of the Twentieth Century
"Cæsar's Column: A Story of the Twentieth Century" by Ignatius Donnelly is a novel published in 1890. Set in 1988 New York, it follows a wool merchant from Uganda who encounters a brutal capitalist oligarchy where technological marvels mask extreme oppression. When he witnesses a confrontation between rich and poor, he's drawn into an underground resistance movement. The story blends dystopian speculation with political commentary and romance, building toward a violent rebellion that threatens to consume the entire city in flames.
Harriet Martineau
Illustrations of political economy, Volume 2 (of 9)
"Illustrations of Political Economy, Volume 2 (of 9)" by Harriet Martineau is a collection of narratives focusing on themes of political economy written in the early 19th century. This volume includes three distinct tales: "Demerara," "Ella of Garveloich," and "Weal and Woe in Garveloich," each exploring complex societal issues and the economic realities of their characters. The likely main focus of the book is the exploration of slavery, its impacts on both the enslaved individuals and society at large, particularly within the context of Demerara. The opening of this volume introduces readers to "Demerara," where the story begins with Alfred Bruce and his sister Mary returning to their family's plantation after being educated in England. Their initial excitement at returning home quickly turns to disillusionment as they confront the stark realities of life on the plantation, including the visible poverty of the enslaved population and the neglect surrounding their estate. Observations about the living conditions of slaves and the practices of the plantation's management provide a poignant commentary on the institution of slavery and its moral implications. The opening sets a contrasting backdrop of beauty in the tropical landscape against the sorrow rooted in its socio-economic structure, highlighting the tension between wealth and exploitation.
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