Throughout history, novels have had a significant impact on society and influenced public discourse. Looking at life through another's eyes can open your heart to new feelings and drive change. American literature, in particular, has produced impactful classics that not only reflect their times but challenge readers to confront pressing social issues.
Uncle Tom's Cabin
When Uncle Tom's Cabin was published in 1852, during America's greatest upheaval, the Civil War would start in less than a decade. Several new states had triggered a free vs. slave state debate in the 1840s and 1850s. The Compromise of 1850, the Dred Scott Case, and the Fugitive Slave Act were actively splitting the country.
Uncle Tom's Cabin was more than an anti-slavery story at the time; it was a powerful Christian novel. Harriet Beecher Stowe knew that the abolitionists were primarily Christians who saw fighting for the end of slavery as their godly duty. This story gave readers the choice between slavery and Christianity.
The Jungle
Upton Sinclair was a reporter for the socialist newspaper Appeal to Reason when he wrote The Jungle. His original goal was to expose governmental and business corruption, but the public was horrified by the imagery he shared from the meatpacking floors. After all, it was their food that was being made.
The Jungle caused an outcry about these factories' unsanitary conditions and health issues, and laws like the Meat Inspection Act were passed. Sinclair may have been disappointed that his original message was lost. Still, we can all thank him for his influence and the significant changes to food processing and government oversight that resulted from his work.
To Kill a Mockingbird
In 1955, the murder of Emmett Till and horrors like it started the Civil Rights Movement. Five years later, Harper Lee wrote and published To Kill a Mockingbird. The story was told by Scout, a young girl in Alabama, in 1937.
The book's solid fatherly character, Atticus Finch, spent his days defending local criminals and raising his children. Atticus led by example and taught his children about the dangers of prejudice and intolerance. In the 1960s, this novel gave readers a gentler message about what they saw in the news. To Kill a Mockingbird remains a classic American novel for high school students nationwide.
The Grapes of Wrath
In total honestly, I'm not a fan of this novel, but I cannot ignore its impact. Its publication date in 1939 alone explains how a story of a poor American family could connect with readers. During the Great Depression, millions of families lost jobs, homes, and even lives. It was a struggle for everyone in the country.
John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath is set in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. After being evicted from their farm, the family travels to California and faces more disappointment. The novel displays the reality of life in Hooverville camps, wage theft, and the legal threats poverty brings.
Once again, this story has Christian themes, but the strength of this novel was the light it shed on the stories of migrants and workers. He forced America to face what was happening because of corporate greed.
Failsafe
In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis kept Americans waiting with bated breath for 13 days. We had to face the fact that fail-safe protocols meant to keep the country safe could cause the end of the world as we knew it. During the height of the Cold War, vigilance and dependence on technology could lead to nuclear war.
Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler wrote Failsafe as a serial for the Saturday Evening Post. It was turned into a novel and published in 1962. The book came out at the same time as another novel, Red Alert, and movie, Dr. Strangelove. Clearly, the fear of military overreaction was a genuine public concern. Unlike other books on this list, the impact of Failsafe may not be as noticeable. Still, it did show the concerns and exhaustion the public felt at the height of the Cold War and their frustrations at living in a nuclear world.
How were these books impactful?
Each of these books influenced readers during its release and after. Whether before the Civil War, during the Great Depression, during the Cold War, or during the Civil Rights Movement, these novels were published at the right time for their message.
The authors of these books also spoke to their audiences in ways few others had before. Some educated the public on unknown real-life activities; others wrote honestly on behalf of marginalized groups. These novels provided cultural reflection, social critique, and an educational value to society, and each connected with the public on an emotional and powerful level.
Final Thoughts
The impact of these American classics lies in their ability to resonate with readers during pivotal moments in history. They offer a mirror of their respective eras and can be a catalyst for reflection and action.
While I wouldn't claim to be on par with Steinbeck or Sinclair, I hope my first novel can also influence readers. If I’m lucky, it may even become one of the assigned novels for American literature classes. Whither Thou Goest came to me, not the other way around. It's a story of mistakes, fights, struggles, and how love leads to forgiveness and redemption.
It's a family story. It's a story of love.
Whither Thou Goest is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers worldwide. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I'd love it if you'd leave a review so I can hear how it has impacted you.
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