A long short story? A short novel? With its origins in the Middle Ages, the novella has a long history as a unique kind of fiction. Read on to discover themes, symbols, and more within both classic novellas like Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis and contemporary selections, such as the multiple-award-winning Binti by Nnedi Okorafor.
Publication year 1983
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature, Grief / Death
The Woman in Black (1983) by Susan Hill follows the gothic literary tradition. Hill explores traditional horror tropes, such as abandoned estates and ghost hauntings, set in an unspecified time in England’s countryside. The horror novella focuses on the first-person point-of-view of Arthur Kipps as he reflects on a ghost haunting he experienced as a young man. Hill explores themes of loss and mourning, the impact of holding onto the past, and the clash between... Read The Woman in Black Summary
Publication year 1972
Genre Novella, Fiction
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
The Word for World is Forest is a novella by science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin. It was published as a self-contained story in 1976 but had appeared in a science fiction anthology four years earlier. Le Guin included the story in her series, the Hainish Cycle, which details an alternate version of the future in which Earth is a colonizing force on other planets. The story examines themes of imperialism, racism, friendship, and... Read The Word for World is Forest Summary
Publication year 1976
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2016
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: World, Canadian Literature
Publication year 2022
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Gothic Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence