Colonialism & Postcolonialism

With best-selling novels like Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible and influential academic texts such as Edward Said's Orientalism, this collection gathers books from across genres to explore the complex dynamics and lasting legacies of colonialism.

Publication year 1954

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags African American Literature, Magical Realism, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Indigenous, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction


Publication year 1991

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics

Tags History: U.S., Business / Economics, Urban Development, Science / Nature, American Literature, History: World


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Philosophy, Social Science, Politics / Government, Sociology


Publication year 1954

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: Class

Tags Historical Fiction, Indian Literature, Poverty, Urban Development, Education, Education, Asian Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Nectar in a Sieve is a 1954 classical fiction novel written by Kamala Markandaya, who was one of the most prominent 20th-century Indian novelists. It was her first novel and was named an American Library Association Notable Book in 1955. The novel’s plot follows Rukmani, a poor farmer’s wife, as she learns what it means to survive and find happiness in postcolonial and post-partition India. Through Rukmani’s eyes, Markandaya explores the impacts of poverty, the... Read Nectar in a Sieve Summary


Publication year 1994

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Language, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Travel Literature, Creative Nonfiction, Philosophy, Philosophy, History: World, Biography

Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder is a memoir by American author Kent Nerburn. The book describes a road trip Nerburn took with two Lakota men, weaving Nerburn’s personal experiences with lengthy speeches from the men on indigenous history and culture. Major themes in the book include The Role of Language in Oppression, The Lasting Trauma of America’s Violence Against Indigenous Communities at the hands of white colonizers, and The... Read Neither Wolf Nor Dog Summary


Publication year 1965

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Colonialism, Identity: Race, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Politics / Government, History: African , Philosophy, African Literature


Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, African Literature, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, Education, Education, African American Literature, Classic Fiction

Nervous Conditions (1988) is a semi-autobiographical literary fiction novel written by Tsitsi Dangarembga, an international author, playwright, filmmaker, and director. The novel is the first in a three-part trilogy and is followed by The Book of Not (2006) and This Mournable Body (2017). Tambudzai, a young girl living with her family on a homestead in Rhodesia, narrates the novel and serves as the primary protagonist. Four other female protagonists—a deuteragonist, Nyasha, and three supporting protagonists... Read Nervous Conditions Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Anthology/Varied Collection, Fiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Colonialism

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 1627

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation

Tags Classic Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, British Literature, Renaissance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Education, Education, History: World, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government

New Atlantis is an unfinished novel published posthumously in 1626 by the English philosopher Francis Bacon. It details the customs and culture of a utopian island society known as Bensalem, at the center of which lies a science and research institution called Salomon’s House. The work expresses many of Bacon’s scientific, philosophical, political, and religious ideas, though its unfinished status has made it the subject of intense scholarly debate over the novel’s meaning and themes... Read New Atlantis Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Race / Racism, Education, Education, History: U.S., American Literature, History: World

New England Bound: Slavery and Colonization in Early America is a 2017 history book by American historian and Princeton University professor Wendy Warren. In her work, Warren explores how 17th-century colonists in New England participated in the transatlantic slave trade by purchasing enslaved Africans and selling Indigenous peoples into slavery. Warren shows how this process of enslavement was integral to the expansion of English settlements and wealth in New England and explains the different manifestations... Read New England Bound Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism, Society: Globalization

Tags History: U.S., Anthropology, Politics / Government, History: World, Colonial America, Education, Education


Publication year 2015

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Latin American Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Night at the Fiestas is a 2015 story collection by New Mexican author Kirstin Valdez Quade. The collection won the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Award, and after its publication, Valdez Quade was recognized as a “Top 5 Writer Under 35” by the National Book Foundation. In 2021, Valdez Quade revised one of the stories, “The Five Wounds” into an award-winning novel of the same title, establishing herself as an important new voice in... Read Night at the Fiestas Summary


Publication year 1983

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Community, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Education, History: U.S., Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Religion / Spirituality, American Literature, Anthropology, Anthropology, History: World, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1961

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Nation, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Social Justice, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 1973

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Teams, Society: Colonialism

Tags Politics / Government, Social Justice, Race / Racism, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 1887

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Satire, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, History: Asian, Politics / Government, Asian Literature, History: World, Romance, Classic Fiction

Noli Me Tángere (1887)—which translates to “Touch Me Not” in Latin—is a novel written by Filipino writer José Rizal. The novel tells the story of Don Crisóstomo Ibarra, a young man of Filipino and Spanish descent who returns to the Philippines after a seven-year trip to Europe. Upon his return, and because he is now old enough to better understand the world, Ibarra sees the oppression wrought on the Indigenous population by Spanish colonialism. As... Read Noli Me Tángere Summary


Publication year 1960

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community

Tags Heinemann African Writers, African Literature, Historical Fiction, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, African American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

No Longer At Ease (1960) is a novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. The story takes place in the years prior to Nigeria’s independence from the British Empire and focuses on Obi Okonkwo. Obi is a young Nigerian man who returns home after studying English in Britain and finds a job in the civil service. He finds himself situated within the conflict between African and Western culture, raising questions about his identity and worldview. No... Read No Longer at Ease Summary


Publication year 1785

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Society: Colonialism

Tags Education, Education, Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, American Revolution, Classic Fiction, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Philosophy, Race / Racism


Publication year 1956

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Colonialism, Society: Class

Tags Race / Racism, Health / Medicine, African Literature