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michaelmc 's review for:
In Dubious Battle
by John Steinbeck
In Dububious Battle is one of Steinbeck's earlier novels, published in 1936. In some ways it seems like a practice writing for his Grapes of Wrath masterpiece. The setting is a strike of agricultural workers somewhere in California. Labor organizers Mac and Jim are the central actors but there are many others. Steinbeck was accused of being a red or communist because of his sympathy for working people. He was really no farther left than Roosevelt and the New Deal.
This novel tells about a time before workers rights and a minimum wage. In the novel when apple growers cut the already low wages for pickers a strike began. There is a feeling of hopelessness in this book. Do the workers have a chance when a few people own the whole county? Is it right to encourage workers to stike when the is small hope of success? Can fairness prevail? The author asked the right questions, the answers are harder to find.
This novel tells about a time before workers rights and a minimum wage. In the novel when apple growers cut the already low wages for pickers a strike began. There is a feeling of hopelessness in this book. Do the workers have a chance when a few people own the whole county? Is it right to encourage workers to stike when the is small hope of success? Can fairness prevail? The author asked the right questions, the answers are harder to find.