This thematic collection covers texts that investigate the particularly fraught dynamics and divisions of class, including Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and Ernesto Galarza's Barrio Boy.
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Class
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Southern Literature, Race / Racism, Poverty, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags New Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Mythology, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1971
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Race / Racism, Black Arts Movement
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Nation, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Indian Literature, Class, Politics / Government, Incarceration, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2001
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation
Tags History: World, Latin American Literature, Arts / Culture, Military / War, Politics / Government, History: European, Class, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Education, Education, History: U.S.
Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America, 4th Edition, by John Charles Chasteen was published in 2016. The first edition was printed in 2001. Chasteen works as an author, translator, and professor of Latin American history and culture. He teaches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Some of his other notable works are Americanos: The Struggle for Latin American Independence, National Rhythms, African Roots: The Deep History of... Read Born in Blood and Fire Summary
Publication year 1880
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: War
Tags French Literature, Military / War, Historical Fiction
“Boule de Suif,” which translates to “ball of fat” in English, is a short story by 19th-century French Naturalist writer Guy de Maupassant. Published in 1880, it was his first published story and is considered one of his greatest works. The story explores the power dynamics of class and gender while also painting a picture of the dismal final days of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 in Prussian-occupied France. All told, Maupassant wrote some 300... Read Boule De Suif Summary
Publication year 1990
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Family
Tags Lyric Poem, Arts / Culture, Climate Change
Publication year 1945
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction, British Literature, LGBTQ
Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred & Profane Memoirs of Captain Charles Ryder (1945) is the ninth published novel by British novelist Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh, who published under “Evelyn Waugh.” It chronicles the life and relationships of Charles Ryder, particularly his complex friendship with the aristocratic Flyte family, during the interwar period in England. The novel was an immediate success, and, despite his later dislike, Waugh referred to it as his “magnum opus.” It has been... Read Brideshead Revisited Summary
Publication year 1997
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Western, Modern Classic Fiction
“Brokeback Mountain,” by award-winning American author Annie Proulx, addresses themes of Masculine Sexuality and the Forbidden Love of Queer Romance, The Inescapable Effects and Momentum of Poverty, and Powerlessness and Loss of Hope. Like much of Proulx’s work, the story includes a strong sense of place. Wyoming’s unforgiving landscape figures prominently in “Brokeback Mountain,” and the film adaptation by the same name received acclaim for its cinematography as well as its unapologetic portrayal of queer... Read Brokeback Mountain Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 1999
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags History: European, Arts / Culture, Renaissance
Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture is a 2000 nonfiction book by Ross King. The book describes how Filippo Brunelleschi radically altered the course of architectural history, defying expectations by designing and building the dome for Florence’s cathedral during the early Renaissance. Receiving widespread praise from critics, King has been commended for making a complex subject accessible to lay readers. King is a bestselling nonfiction writer who lectures across Europe and North America... Read Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Relationships, Psychological Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1963
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor
Publication year 1794
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride
Tags Classic Fiction, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature, History: World
Caleb Williams, written by William Godwin, is one of the first crime novels in English literature as well as a critique of the injustices and inequities of the political and social system in Britain during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Godwin passionately believed that the social hierarchy that placed the upper class over the lower class was unjust and that the law enabled a tyrannical abuse of power. Although many felt that Caleb Williams... Read Caleb Williams Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags History: U.S.
Publication year 1922
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Action / Adventure, History: World
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature
Publication year 1990
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Romance