100%: The Story of a Patriot

Upton Sinclair's The Story of a Patriot follows Peter Gudge, a hungry, undersized drifter whose petty schemes and survival instincts carry him into the middle of a city convulsed by war fever, labor conflict, and anti-radical hysteria. Drawn toward a patriotic parade as much by the hope of a meal as by curiosity, Peter is caught in a bombing and quickly realizes that panic may be more useful than truth. What begins as an accident becomes a nightmare of suspicion when a circular in his pocket leads police to brand him a conspirator and brutalize him into a confession. Thrown into a freezing jail cell and treated as guilty before he is heard, Peter is swept into a sensational "red menace" case fueled by headlines, civic leaders, and frightened authorities. Yet the novel also exposes the hidden machinery behind the spectacle: wealthy business interests, secret agents, and political opportunists manipulating events from the shadows. Released unexpectedly, Peter resumes his role as informant under McGivney's direction, then meets Nell to reveal the truth and help craft a covert warning to Nelson Ackerman. Sinclair blends satire, suspense, and social critique into a sharp portrait of deception, power, and ordinary people trapped inside history's machinery. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.