This thematic collection covers texts that investigate the particularly fraught dynamics and divisions of class, including Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and Ernesto Galarza's Barrio Boy.
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class
Tags Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2005
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Economics, Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Politics / Government, Business / Economics, Urban Development, Poverty, Finance / Money / Wealth, History: Asian, History: African , History: European, History: U.S., Social Justice, Class, Science / Nature, Sociology, History: World
Planet of Slums is a non-fiction book published in 2006 by American author and urban theorist Mike Davis. It chronicles the spread of poverty in cities around the world at a time when more than a billion people live in what the United Nations (UN) classifies as "slums."SummaryIn 1950, only 86 cities around the world had populations of one million people or more. When Davis wrote this book in 2005, he predicted that by 2015... Read Planet of Slums Summary
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Society: Class
Tags Philosophy, Education, Education, Philosophy, Classical Period, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government, History: World, Ancient Greece
Politics by Aristotle is a study of political theories and approaches written in the fourth century BCE. Politics serves as a companion to Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. In Politics, Aristotle builds a case in response to Plato’s Republic. Aristotle argues that the purpose of a city is to contribute to the common good, creating a framework for individuals to pursue happiness through virtue. The philosopher and scientist gathered data on 158 different cities before writing his... Read Politics Summary
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Natural Disaster, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Italian Literature, History: World, Classical Period
Pompeii is a 2003 historical fiction novel by British author Robert Harris. The novel blends together the history of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD with a fictional plot about an engineer sent from Rome to repair the city’s aqueducts. This study guide uses an eBook version of the 2003 Ballantine Books edition. Plot SummaryMarcus Attilius Primus is a young aqueduct engineer, also known as an “aquarius.” His father and his grandfather were... Read Pompeii Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Class, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 1917
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Place, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Society: Class, Society: Community
Tags Free verse, Urban Development, Modernism, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Education, Identity: Femininity, Society: Class, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Society: Class
Tags Realistic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Class, Society: Community, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Romance, Class, Urban Development, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2001
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Social Justice, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, Politics / Government, Disability, Education, Education, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology
Publication year 2005
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class
Tags Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Gender / Feminism, Social Science, Parenting, Social Justice, Poverty, Sociology
Publication year 1913
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Language
Tags British Literature, Play: Drama, Play: Comedy / Satire, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy, Romance, Humor
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw was first published in 1914, with an updated version published in 1941. The play was Shaw’s most popular and most critically acclaimed work. It inspired the heavily romanticized musical and movie adaptation My Fair Lady, which won both a Tony for Best Musical and an Oscar for Best Picture.Shaw began his career as a novelist, but his novels were largely unsuccessful. After he moved from Dublin to London, he shifted... Read Pygmalion Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Race, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Drama / Tragedy, Race / Racism, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1868
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Classic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Historical Fiction, American Literature, Class, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World
Ragged Dick; or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks was Horatio Alger, Jr.’s first bestselling book. Ragged Dick was serialized in 1867 in the monthly American children’s magazine, Student and Schoolmate, prior to its successful publication as a novel in 1868. The first volume in a six-volume series, Ragged Dick established Alger’s primary theme of a boy’s rise from humble beginnings to prosperity and respectability. Alger’s “rags to riches” narrative built on... Read Ragged Dick Summary
Publication year 1975
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, Class, Race / Racism, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1959
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Education, Education
Publication year 1979
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Society: Class
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Immigration
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism