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 1846
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Travel Literature, Action / Adventure, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, American Literature, History: World
Publication year 2017
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism
Tags History: U.S., Sports, Diversity, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, History: World, Biography
Publication year 1963
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Objects, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags American Literature, Historical Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Satire, Addiction / Substance Abuse, History: European, History: U.S., Military / War, Crime / Legal, Post Modernism, Post-War Era
... Read V. Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: War, Natural World: Place, Society: Colonialism
Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Gothic Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1996
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Colonialism
Tags Play: Drama, Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Venus is a play by Suzan-Lori Parks, published in 1996 and first performed the same year. Suzan-Lori Parks is a notable American playwright, known for works such as Topdog/Underdog, as well as screenplays, such as Girl 6 and Their Eyes Were Watching God. Venus reimagines the life of Saartjie Baartman, also known as Sarah Baartman, who was shown in exhibits across Europe as the Hottentot Venus in the early 19th century. The play addresses themes... Read Venus Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, History: World, Indian Literature, Fantasy
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Indigenous
Tags Historical Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Society: Community, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1942
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, History: World, Technology, Technology, Biography
West With the Night (1942) is a memoir by Beryl Markham. Markham writes about her childhood among indigenous Kenyans, who accepted and included the English girl in their traditional customs. The author grew up hunting with a spear and speaking Swahili while also learning about raising and training racehorses from her father, Charles Clutterbuck. The danger and adventure she experienced as a child became the hallmarks of her living experiences as an adult. A chance... Read West with the Night Summary
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: African , Journalism, Military / War, Politics / Government, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: World, Biography
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda (1998) describes the Hutu majority’s slaughter of at least 800,000 Tutsis in 100 days in 1994—with author and journalist Philip Gourevitch documenting the meticulous planning behind the genocide. Gourevitch chastises the international community, especially the United States and France, for failing to stop the genocide in accordance with obligations under the Genocide Convention. Visiting Rwanda one year after... Read We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, History: World, Romance
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Love / Sexuality, Military / War, History: European, Politics / Government, History: World, Irish Literature
Publication year 1989
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags History: Asian, Vietnam War, Immigration / Refugee, Politics / Government, Military / War, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2002
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Society: Colonialism
Tags Science / Nature, Colonial America, War On Terrorism / Iraq War
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Magical Realism, Southern Literature, History: World
Publication year 1967
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1978
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Environment, Society: Colonialism
Tags Historical Fiction, American Literature, Education, Education
Wind From an Enemy Sky is a 1978 historical fiction novel by D’Arcy McNickle. It tells the story of the fictional Little Elk tribe in the northwestern United States and their attempts to navigate the advancement of white colonization on their lands. McNickle based the story on his life as a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation. The novel was McNickle’s last and was published posthumously. While it never... Read Wind from an Enemy Sky Summary
Publication year 1973
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Society: Colonialism
Tags Heinemann African Writers, Satire, Realistic Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Class, History: African , Politics / Government, Love / Sexuality, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Humor, African American Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction
Xala: A Novel was written by the Senegalese writer and filmmaker Ousmane Sembène. The satirical work was originally published in France in 1974 and released in the United States in 1976. In 1975, it was adapted into a film directed by Sembène. The postcolonial novel deals with the aftermath of Senegal’s formal independence from France on August 20, 1960—two years after the country had become a republic. Senegal celebrates its Independence Day on April 4... Read Xala Summary