|
10 Books that Changed America
5
Native Son
Richard Wright, 1940
This novel by Richard Wright was incredible, and shocked the entire nation by making a seemingly vicious black man (and a murderer) a hero, or at least an anti-hero. Bigger Thomas was the epitome of an angry black man, pushed too far not only by a society that hated him because of the color of the skin, but by the self-loathing he felt as a result and by even the white Socialists who thought they understood, but did not. This violent and startling story brought to attention the savage inequalities and racism in America, and helped lay part of the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement.
4
A Vindication of the Rights of Women
Mary Wollstonecraft, 1792
This 1792 work was a passionate manifesto, and this work’s effect caused Wollstonecraft to be considered the mother of modern feminism. This was the first major literary assertion of women’s rights, and started the ball rolling on every major breakthrough to follow.
3
The Jungle
Upton Sinclair, 1906
Hot dog, anyone? This novel was meant to be about not only the meat packing plant, but also about the terrible conditions of poverty that immigrants and low wage workers dealt with in the cities. This novel shocked the nation, and the understanding that humans who fell in the vat simply ended up in hot dogs . . . well apparently that’s more important than poverty. Nonetheless, this caused several acts to be passed by congress in dealing with both employment laws and with meat packing and food and safety standards. Many of these laws are still in effect even today.
2
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852
This was almost number one, but even at 2, no one can argue that this was one of the most influential books in American history. Not only was this the first book to sell a million copies, and inflamed the issue of slavery to the point where there was no way to ignore it any longer. When author Harriet Beecher Stowe met President Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln was quoted as saying: “So you’re the little woman who started this great war.” Whether the quote is true or not, it shows the effect she had on society.
1
Common Sense
Thomas Paine, 1776
It’s almost impossible to argue with this one at the top. The fiery yet intelligent public indictment of monarchy and demanding freedom may have been the single biggest fuse that lead to wide spread support of the Revolutionary War. Many historians think of Paine’s book as the ember that sparked the blaze. Over 100,000 copies were sold in the first few months, and before “Common Sense” became widely read, most colonists didn’t give a crap about breaking away from Great Britain, so the book that helped create America is the one that gets the number one spot.
5
《土生子》
理查德?赖特，1940
这本由理查德?赖特写的小说不可思议，震撼国家，其主角是一个看似品行不端的黑人（一个谋杀者）——或至少这是一个平凡的主角。男主角别格?托马斯是一个缩影，代表了愤怒的黑人，不仅因他的肤色被社会憎恨而远远抛弃，结果还自暴自弃，甚至是遭到那些白人社会主义者的抛弃，他们自以为理解黑人可事实却相反。这个暴力而令人吃惊的故事引起了人们对美国野蛮的不平等和种族歧视问题的关注，也为民权运动奠定部分基础。
4
《为女权辩护》
玛丽?沃斯通克拉夫特，1792
这部1792年出版的著作是热情洋溢的宣言，它的作者沃斯通克拉夫特因这部作品成了现代女权的先驱。这是第一部以维护女权为主线的文学作品，且随至而来的突破如同滚雪球般越来越多。
3
《屠场》
厄普顿?辛克莱尔，1906
热狗，每个人都能享用得到？这部小说讲的不仅仅是肉类加工厂，还有移民和在城市中勉强度日的低收入工人的穷困窘境。这部小说震撼全国，让人们明白只要跌入那个大木桶就会难逃被制成热狗任人宰割的结局……显然这比贫穷更值得人关注。然而，这本书还引起国会通过几项法案，其中涉及就业法规，肉类包装和食品安全标准。其中的一些法律至今依然有效。
2
《汤姆叔叔的小屋》
斯托，H.B，1852
这本书在这张榜单上的位置数一数二，无人质疑它是美国历史上最具影响力的书籍。不仅仅因为它的销量达一百万本，前所未有，还将奴隶制问题推到了不再被忽视的风口浪尖上。当这本说的作者与美国总统林肯会面时，林肯说：“你就是那个引发那场伟大战争的小妇人啊。” 无论这个引用是真是假，可她确实在这个社会上引起了轰动。
1
《常识》
托马斯?潘恩，1776
质疑它排在这张榜单第一的位置，这几乎是不可能的。对君主制激烈而高明的公开控诉和对自由的需求也许已经成为引发人们广泛支持美国革命战争唯一的最明显的导火线。许多历史学家认为潘恩的书是点燃熊熊烈火的余烬。在发行开始的几个月，销量突破10万本。当《常识》被广泛阅读之前，大多数的殖民者仍没有放弃逃脱出大不列颠控制的最后一搏，这本书为创建美国助推了一把，所以它占据了这张榜单的第一位置。
[责编：朱静]
| 
