Prince Hagen

Name: Prince Hagen
Author: Upton Sinclair

By Upton Sinclair

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Mythology, Legends & Folklore Plays/Films/Dramas

About This Book

The play follows a Nibelung prince who leaves his mythic realm to enter modern high society and seeks to overturn the privileges of industrial and financial elites. Scenes range from a primeval camp to Fifth Avenue mansions and a palace conservatory as the prince uses ancestral claim and persuasive rhetoric to challenge coal and steel magnates, reveal the moral compromises of organized religion, and foment popular support. Interwoven characters include a reflective poet, a wily servant figure, and society hosts whose debates about order, religion, and force underscore class tensions. The drama blends satire and melodrama to examine ambition, power, and social hypocrisy.

About the Author

Upton Sinclair

Upton Sinclair (1878-1968) was an American writer and social activist known for his influential works that often critiqued social injustices and the capitalist system. His most famous novel, "The Jungle," exposed the harsh conditions and exploited lives of immigrants in the United States, particularly in the meatpacking industry, leading to significant reforms in food safety regulations. Sinclair's prolific career included over 90 books, spanning various genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and plays. His commitment to social change and progressive politics is evident throughout his body of work, which remains relevant in discussions of labor rights and economic inequality.