In the world of literature you will find much of what you're describing. Just to name a few: "Hard Times" by Dickens, "The Grapes of Wrath" by Steinbeck, "Germinal" by Émile Zola. "Christ in Concrete" by Donato is another one.

If you want non-fiction, I can recommend "Nickel and Dimed" by Ehrenreich or "Working" by Terkel.