Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Upton Sinclair’s Oil! Examines Wealth, Politics, and Corruption
Oil!
is a novel written by Upton Sinclair.
It was published in 1927.
The story is mainly set in Southern California.
It follows a boy named Bunny Ross.
Bunny’s father is an oil tycoon.
As Bunny grows older, he notices corruption and unfairness around his father’s business world.
The book examines how money, companies, and politics can be connected.
It was later loosely adapted into the movie There Will Be Blood.
Upton Sinclair published Oil! in 1927.
The novel focuses on the American petroleum industry.
It explores connections between wealth, business, and politics.
Set largely in Southern California, it follows Bunny Ross, the son of an oil tycoon.
Oil! was loosely adapted into the 2007 film There Will Be Blood.
- Who
- Upton Sinclair wrote the novel, which follows Bunny Ross, the son of an oil tycoon.
- What
- Oil! examines the American petroleum industry and its relationships with wealth, business, and politics.
- When
- The novel was published in 1927.
- Where
- The story is set largely in Southern California.
- Why
- Sinclair uses the story to explore corruption and inequality surrounding the oil tycoon’s world.
- Author
- Upton Sinclair
- Title
- Oil!
- Publication year
- 1927
- Primary subject
- The American petroleum industry
- Main character
- Bunny Ross
- Setting
- Largely Southern California
- Film adaptation
- The 2007 film There Will Be Blood, described as a loose adaptation