In Dubious Battle - John Steinbeck

Steinbeck's concise tale of labor strife and political uprising follows a young, disenfranchised worker who joins up with a local branch of the communist party. His mentor teaches him the ins and outs of riding the rails and being subversive, and they soon plant themselves in an apple picking camp and try to stir things up. The story is mostly driven by dialogue, and the author's ideas on the skeptical nature of political ideology and violent struggle are revealed through the discussions of common workers (though Steinbeck's views are expressed most clearly in the words of an apolitical doctor). Full of tension until the final page, this novel is an honest depiction of an American time period as well as a careful inspection of the morality of inciting hatred and rebellion for the sake of a greater good.

IMPORTANT!
4 out of 5
Buy this book: In Dubious Battle (Penguin Classics)