The novel portrays the story of Hal Warner, a wealthy young man from the East who decides to investigate the dangerous and exploitative working conditions in the coal mines of the western United States. Hal disguises himself as a miner and experiences firsthand the hardships, injustices, and struggles faced by the workers in the mining towns.Through Hal's experiences, Upton Sinclair exposes the appalling living and working conditions in the coal mines, highlighting the exploitation of laborers, unsafe working environments, and the overall plight of the working class."King Coal" is part of Sinclair's body of work that aimed to bring attention to social injustices and the need for reform in various industries. Sinclair's vivid portrayal of the coal mining industry aimed to raise awareness about the exploitation of labor and the urgent need for social and economic change.