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