In George Orwell's 1984 a character says, "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." The past may be behind us, but its events—and how we remember them—have a profound effect on the present. In this collection explore texts that examine the complications and complexities of the past.
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Military / War, History: Asian, Race / Racism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Chinese Literature
When We Were Orphans is a novel by distinguished Japanese-British writer Kazuo Ishiguro, originally published in the UK in 2000. Set largely in England and Shanghai of the 1930s, the historical novel is structurally adventurous with elements of detective fiction. The plot deals with the childhood memories and the present detective work of a man in search of his missing parents, while painting a large canvass of the social systems in China and the UK... Read When We Were Orphans Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags History: World, Biography, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Nation
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Drama / Tragedy, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 1927
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community
Tags Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1986
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Holidays & Occasions, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S.
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Russian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Irish Literature, Literary Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1952
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags History: U.S., Cold War, Politics / Government, Philosophy, Christian literature, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography
Publication year 2009
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: The Past, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science / Nature, History: U.S., Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Romance, Magical Realism, Drama / Tragedy, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 1961
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Allegory / Fable / Parable, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Education, Education