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 2009
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Colonialism, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Society: War
Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Historical Fiction, African American Literature
Publication year 2000
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags History: World, Japanese Literature, Biography, History: Asian, Politics / Government, Inspirational
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Colonialism
Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Publication year 1988
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Creative Nonfiction, Afro-Caribbean Literature, History: World, Politics / Government, Black Lives Matter, Education, Education, Travel Literature, Classic Fiction
A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid is a work of creative nonfiction originally published in 1988. Kincaid shares memories of her home country, Antigua, both while it was under colonial rule and self-governance. She illustrates how life has and hasn’t changed for Antiguan citizens because of government corruption, the legacies of slavery, and the preoccupation with tourism over public welfare. Though the book won no awards, Kincaid has won a plethora of awards for her... Read A Small Place Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Fantasy
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, WWI / World War I, French Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Race / Racism, History: World, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2007
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Society: War, Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Economics, Society: Immigration
Tags History: U.S., Social Justice, Politics / Government, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Race, Identity: Language, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2012
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Self Discovery, Society: Nation, Society: Community
Tags History: U.S., Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Depression / Suicide, Education, History: The Americas, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Music, Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Ann Patchett’s 2001 novel, Bel Canto, tells the alternately life-affirming and heart-wrenching story of a disparate group of people who are taken hostage in the Vice Presidential mansion of an unnamed South American country. The group has gathered to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Hosokawa, a Japanese businessman and passionate opera lover. Mr. Hosokawa has requested that Roxanne Coss, a renowned soprano from America, sing at his party. She is captivating, but at the end... Read Bel Canto Summary
Publication year 2003
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags History: U.S., American Revolution, Politics / Government, Business / Economics, History: World, Biography
Publication year 1972
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Society: Colonialism
Tags Heinemann African Writers, African Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics
Tags Satire, Humor, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism, Society: War
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Afrofuturism, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature
Publication year 1993
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Relationships: Family
Tags Satire, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2016
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, History: African , Humor, Biography
Born a Crime is a comedic autobiographical work chronicling Trevor Noah’s childhood growing up in South Africa during and after apartheid. Published in 2016, it became a New York Times bestseller, and it is currently being adapted into a film. Born a Crime doesn’t follow a linear timeline; rather, the narrative jumps in time, offering anecdotes from Noah’s past. Before each chapter begins, there is a prologue that’s related to the content of the upcoming... Read Born a Crime Summary
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 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S., History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Environment, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Science / Nature, Philosophy