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 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Society: Globalization, Society: Immigration, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Climate Change, Science / Nature, Politics / Government, History: World
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 1975
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction
The Great Train Robbery (1975) by Michael Crichton is a fictionalized account of the Great Gold Robbery of 1855. It details the actions of criminal mastermind Edward Pierce and his co-conspirators as they plan and execute the heist of £12,000 of gold from a train in London. This historical thriller analyzes Victorian beliefs about crime in the context of a rapidly changing society overwhelmed by industrialization. Historically, Pierce’s successful heist shocked a nation that believed... Read The Great Train Robbery Summary
Publication year 1957
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Classic Fiction, French Literature, Absurdism, Education, Education, Philosophy, Philosophy
“The Guest,” a short story by French author and philosopher Albert Camus, was first published in 1957 in his only short story collection, Exile and the Kingdom. Having also published The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, and The Fall, Camus, an existentialist writer who wrote extensively in support of the French Resistance, was awarded the Nobel prize in Literature in 1957. In crafting his works, Camus took inspiration from French Algeria, where he... Read The Guest Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gothic Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Fantasy
Publication year 2008
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Education, Society: Colonialism
Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, African Literature, Arts / Culture, Education, Education, African American Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Race, Society: Nation
Tags History: U.S., Gilded Age, Race / Racism, History: World, Social Justice, Politics / Government
Anthropologist David Treuer’s The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present (2019) revives Indigenous history and centers Indigenous people as subjects, not as mere victims of American avarice. It was a finalist for the National Book Award in Nonfiction. Treuer is a member of the Ojibwe tribe from the Leech Lake Reservation in north-central Minnesota. He has a doctorate in anthropology, teaches at the University of Southern California, and is the... Read The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity
Tags Historical Fiction, History: World, Indian Literature, Arts / Culture
The Henna Artist (2020) is a novel by Indian American author Alka Joshi and the first book in The Jaipur Trilogy. The story takes place in 1950s India and follows 17-year-old Lakshmi as she escapes an abusive marriage and moves to Jaipur to become a henna artist. The protagonist is based on the author’s mother, who was not able to choose her own path in life but was determined that her children would have that... Read The Henna Artist Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, History: U.S.
The Heretic’s Daughter (2008) is the debut novel of author Kathleen Kent. Upon publication, it immediately made the New York Times bestseller list. Kent followed this title with two other best-selling historical fiction works: The Traitor’s Wife (2010) and The Outcasts (2013). She also wrote a crime fiction trilogy that was nominated for an Edgar Award. A resident of Texas, Kent was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in 2020 for her contribution to... Read The Heretic's Daughter Summary
Publication year 1830
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, History: European, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography
Publication year 2003
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Education, Education, Anthropology, Anthropology, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government, History: World, Sociology
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Indigenous, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Latin American Literature
Written by Luis Alberto Urrea in 2005, The Hummingbird’s Daughter is a fictional account of the life of Teresa Urrea, a woman whose mystical powers and religious fervor earned her the reputation of a living saint in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Luis Alberto Urrea is a distant cousin of Teresa and grew up hearing about her. He eventually researched her life through his family connections and the communities that she helped. The novel... Read The Hummingbird's Daughter Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War
Tags History: Asian, History: World, Politics / Government, Military / War, Religion / Spirituality, Social Justice
Publication year 1967
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Colonial America, American Revolution, American Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 1902
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Colonialism, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Masculinity
Tags LGBTQ, Classic Fiction, Travel Literature, Gender / Feminism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, French Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 2016
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Irish Literature, Biography, History: U.S., Military / War, History: World
The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero (2016), by American author and journalist Timothy Egan, is a biography of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionary and American Civil War hero who later became the governor of the Montana Territory. Egan's narrative captures Meagher's tumultuous journey, from his fight for Irish independence to his contributions in America, focusing on broader themes of exile, resilience, and identity. Egan contextualizes Meagher’s life against the... Read The Immortal Irishman Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Colonialism
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, History
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America is a 2012 nonfiction book by Thomas King about the history of relations between Indigenous people and American settler colonialism. King is a novelist of Cherokee descent, and The Inconvenient Indian is his first book of nonfiction. The book was awarded the CBA Libris Award for Best Non-Fiction Book in 2013. This guide follows the first edition of the book.Content Warning: Both the... Read The Inconvenient Indian Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: U.S., Southern Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication year 1911
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1789
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Colonialism
Tags Race / Racism, History: African
Originally published in 1789, Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by Himself is a slave narrative in which the author recounts his childhood, capture, life as an enslaved person, and emancipation. With its descriptions of life among the Igbo and the author’s experience of the Middle Passage, the book is a key text for studying the transatlantic slave trade and lives of people of... Read The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, the African Summary