Class

The titles in the Social Class Collection explore the historical and contemporary implications of social class and class division in cultures around the world. Representing a diverse range of perspectives, cultures, and societies, the selections in this Collection span a broad range of genres and forms, including essays, biographies, and fiction.

Journey to the End of the Night

by Louis-Ferdinand Celine, Transl. Ralph Manheim

Publication year 1932

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Hate & Anger, Love, Mental Health, Race, Death, Social Class, Colonialism, War

Tags French Literature, Philosophy, Life-Inspired Fiction, World War I, Modernism, The Lost Generation

Journey to the End of the Night is a modernist novel by Louis-Ferdinand Céline, first published in the French language in 1932 by Parisian publishing house Éditions Denoël et Steele. It is a semi-autobiographical work centered on the life and travels of cynical antihero Ferdinand Bardamu, set over several decades of Bardamu’s life, beginning at the outbreak of World War I. The novel became influential in the development of post–WWI literary modernism, but like many... Read Journey to the End of the Night Summary

Jude the Obscure

by Thomas Hardy

Publication year 1895

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Social Class, Education, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Victorian Period, Classic Fiction, Social Class, Historical Fiction, Romance, British Literature, World History, Victorian Era

English author Thomas Hardy published his final novel, Jude the Obscure, in 1895. Critics deemed it “immoral” and “indecent,” and it became a target of book burnings because of its critique of marriage, religion, education, and class structure. The narrative follows the tragic journey of Jude Fawley, a working-class man striving for education and love, whose aspirations are consistently thwarted by societal barriers, personal setbacks, and internal struggles.This guide refers to the e-book version of... Read Jude the Obscure Summary

July's People

by Nadine Gordimer

Publication year 1981

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Equality, Conflict, Fear, Guilt, Memory, Regret, Race, Family, Marriage, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Race & Racism, Military & War, African Literature

July’s People, a 1981 dystopian novel by South African author Nadine Gordimer, imagines the aftermath of a bloody uprising that topples South Africa’s notorious, white-ruled apartheid regime. Her novel, which follows a white family’s desperate flight from Johannesburg, traces the complex interdependencies of white and Black South Africans, revealing the insidiousness of the regime’s racial disparities and mindsets, even among liberal, well-meaning white people. Through the lens of this hypothetical future, Gordimer’s novel explores racial... Read July's People Summary

Keeping 13

by Chloe Walsh

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Grief, Love, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Family, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community

Tags Romance, Sports, New Adult, Modern Classic Fiction, Trauma & Abuse

... Read Keeping 13 Summary

Keep the Aspidistra Flying

by George Orwell

Publication year 1936

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Economics, Social Class, Hate & Anger

Tags Classic Fiction, Satirical Literature, Social Class, Relationships, British Literature, World History, Politics & Government

Keep the Aspidistra Flying was first published in 1936. Written by George Orwell (whose real name was Eric Arthur Blair), it is not as well-known as other works like 1984 and Animal Farm, nor was it well received when it was released. Like much of Orwell’s other fiction, though, it is a social criticism novel; it examines and critiques social, political, and economic issues contemporary to the time of its writing. In 1997, Robert Bierman... Read Keep the Aspidistra Flying Summary

Key Player

by Kelly Yang

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Language, Race, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Place, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Sports

... Read Key Player Summary

Killing Rage

by bell hooks

Publication year 1995

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Gender Identity, Race, Social Class, Colonialism, Politics & Government

Tags Race & Racism, Social Justice, Politics & Government, Gender & Feminism, Sociology, World History, Philosophy, Philosophy

... Read Killing Rage Summary

Kingdom of Ash

by Sarah J. Maas

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Love, Race, Coming of Age, Plants, Place, Teamwork, Social Class, War, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action & Adventure

... Read Kingdom of Ash Summary

Kingmaker

by Sonia Purnell

Publication year 2024

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Femininity, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, The Past, Marriage, Social Class, Politics & Government, War

Tags Biography, History, European History, World War II, US History, Gender & Feminism

... Read Kingmaker Summary

King of the Wind

by Marguerite Henry

Publication year 1948

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Gratitude, Hope, Love, Disability, Language, Race, Coming of Age, Animals, Friendship, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Beauty, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Children`s Literature, Animals, Classic Fiction

Originally published in 1948, Marguerite Henry’s Newbery Medal-winning King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian is a middle-grade historical novel that blends fact and legend to tell the story of one of the founding sires of modern Thoroughbred horses. Through the journey of Agba, a Moroccan stableboy with a speech disability, and his horse, Sham, Henry creates a tale about how loyalty, perseverance, and fate shaped the history of horse racing.This guide... Read King of the Wind Summary

King Sorrow

by Joe Hill

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Regret, Revenge, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Teamwork, Social Class, War, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy

... Read King Sorrow Summary

Kira-Kira

by Cynthia Kadohata

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Grief, Love, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Siblings, Social Class, Economics, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction, Grief & Death, Asian Literature, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, US History, Parenting, Race & Racism, American Literature, Children`s Literature, World History

Cynthia Kadohata’s first novel, Kira-Kira (2004), is a historical coming-of-age novel for middle-grade readers. The novel tells the story of the Japanese American Takeshima family, who live in the Chesterfield, Georgia, in the 1950s. The protagonist and first-person narrator is the younger daughter, Katie. The narrative spans seven years, involving the family’s move from Iowa to the South, where Katie’s parents become workers in the poultry industry. The narrative follows Katie as she awakens to... Read Kira-Kira Summary

Kiss the Girls

by James Patterson

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, Appearance & Reality, Family, Teamwork, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction

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Land of Milk and Honey

by C Pam Zhang

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Guilt, Hope, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Language, Race, Sexual Identity, Future, Animals, Climate, Environment, Food, Place, Social Class, Power & Greed, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Food, Love & Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ+

... Read Land of Milk and Honey Summary