In certain eras when many couldn’t talk about their political affiliations or support certain public issues that went against the grain, authors decided that works of fiction were good methods of using their voice. On this day, when we celebrate the release of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in an abolitionist newspaper, here are six other books which made political and social statements. Seven of many others…
1. The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Even though Leo DiCaprio perfectly embodied the Great Gatsby, let us not forget that the original novel was written in the 20’s and was an extremely important commentary on modern society. If you haven’t read the book, go buy it. Immediately.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Perhaps one of the novels that will change your entire life, this book written by Harper Lee discusses a crisis of conscience in a small Southern town when a black man is accused of assaulting a white woman. As well as making her work a thoroughly enthralling read, Lee questioned the values of society, particularly questioning racism.
3. The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
Holden Caulfield is not your typical teenager. After suffering a scarring incident in his youth that he never recovers from, Holden desperately tries to prevent himself from getting older. Although a pretty personal story, J.D. Salinger really got to the heart of issues that teenagers face in society, how they are viewed and how they deal with their problems. Not to mention its commentary on American society as a whole. Catcher is one of those amazing things that can never happen again.
4. Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Harriet Beecher Stowe
Based around the central figure of an old slave Tom, other characters populate a novel which was the second biggest selling novel of the 19th century, only beaten out by the Bible. Firmly an active abolitionist, Harriet Beecher Stowe put forward a case for the end of slavery like no one really had before.
5. Lord of the Flies – William Golding
There is evil in all of us. Well, that is at least what William Golding thinks according to the novel which tells the story of a group of children marooned on a desert island who must fend for themselves. Initially creating a makeshift society, the group eventually develops into absolute anarchy, with some heartbreaking results.
6. Animal Farm – George Orwell
There are a lot of smart books, but Animal Farm is very high on the list of the smartest. Written by George Orwell, this is an allegorical and dystopian piece of work conveyed with farm animals. Mainly reflecting the Russian revolution, the latter part of the novel discusses life in Stalin Russia.
7. Les Miserables – Victor Hugo
Centring around the character of Jean Valjean, Les Miserables explores the lives of the “Miserable Ones”, the destitute and poor in French society. Published in 1862, the novel was ground breaking in its depiction of the poor, many were disgusted with its empathy for the revolutionary characters. However, the book has been lauded for centuries as one of the finest novels ever published.
