This curated selection of titles examines the concept of power and its role in shaping society. The texts in the Power Collection draw upon a wide range of literary traditions and genres to explore concepts related to power and its pursuit, such as equality and injustice, colonialism, authority, and conflict.
Publication year 1926
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Class, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Classic Fiction, British Literature, Modernism, Finance / Money / Wealth, Class, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Fantasy
D. H. Lawrence published “The Rocking Horse Winner” in 1926, just four years before his death in 1930. He had written a story, “Glad Ghosts,” for inclusion in Lady Cynthia Asquith’s supernatural fiction anthology Ghost Book. She did not like the story, partly because of the celebration of male sexuality and other erotic undertones. Lawrence wrote “The Rocking Horse Winner” for her instead. Lawrence sets the story in a haunted house, appropriate for a “ghost”... Read The Rocking Horse Winner Summary
Publication year 1985
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Magical Realism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Gender / Feminism, African Literature, African American Literature, French Literature, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1905
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Fame, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1907
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Satire, British Literature
The Secret Agent is a novel by British Polish writer Joseph Conrad, first published in 1907. Set in London in 1886, it portrays Adolf Verloc as the titular secret agent who works for a powerful but unnamed country, likely Russia. The novel has been adapted for film and television under various titles. This guide uses the 2008 Oxford World Classic’s edition of The Secret Agent. Content warning: This text discusses suicide, abuse, and ableism.Plot SummaryAdolf... Read The Secret Agent Summary
Publication year 1930
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Gender / Feminism, Class, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
The Selection is the first book in the titular romance trilogy by American author Kiera Cass. First published in 2012, The Selection was pitched as a dystopian interpretation of the hit television show The Bachelor, and as Publisher’s Weekly stated in their review, the Selection is “[a] cross between ‘The Hunger Games’ (minus the blood sport) and ‘The Bachelor’ (minus the blood sport).” In a future set in the land of Illéa (formerly the United... Read The Selection Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Historical Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Chinese Literature, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 2007
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Class, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Business / Economics, Politics / Government, History: World, Social Justice, Political Science, Philosophy
The Shock Doctrine (2007) is a critique of neoliberalism by Canadian writer and activist Naomi Klein. Klein analyzes the history of neoliberalism and its relationship with crises to argue that neoliberal economics—as promoted by Milton Friedman and his acolytes—exploit and create crises to impose neoliberal policies on unwilling populations through undemocratic means. In Klein’s view, this happens through the mechanism of “shock therapy,” through which nations take advantage of crisis moments to strategically introduce new... Read The Shock Doctrine Summary
Publication year 1890
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction
The Sign of Four is the second Sherlock Holmes novel by famed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. First published in February 1890 in the popular literary magazine Lippincott’s under the title “The Sign of the Four; or the Problem of the Sholtos,” its title was shortened to The Sign of Four when it was published in book format in October 1890. The Sign of Four has been adapted many times for the stage, radio... Read The Sign of the Four Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags History: U.S., Journalism, History: World, Biography, Politics / Government
Publication year 2014
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Aging, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore
The Sleeper and the Spindle is a standalone short story written by English American author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Chris Riddell. It first appeared unillustrated in the 2013 anthology Rag & Bones: New Twists on Timeless Tales. The story is a loose retelling of Sleeping Beauty, featuring two unnamed female characters who act as reimagined versions of the sleeping princess and of Snow White. It uses classic fairy tale tropes and motifs to upend... Read The Sleeper and the Spindle Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Historical Fiction, Western, History: U.S., History: World
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, Romance, New Adult
Publication year 1891
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1929
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Economics, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Masculinity
Tags Southern Gothic, Classic Fiction, Modernism, Education, Education, Southern Literature, American Literature, History: World
William Faulkner’s 1929 novel The Sound and the Fury relays the trials and decline of a once-prominent Southern family, the Compsons. The novel grapples with the challenges of a changing cultural landscape as modernity encroaches on the values—and deep-seated prejudices—of the Old South. Told through the perspectives of the three Compson brothers, Benjy, Quentin, and Jason, the novel visits and revisits key events in the family’s past and present. Much of the concern swirls around... Read The Sound and the Fury Summary