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.

Marie Antoinette

by Antonia Fraser

Publication year 2001

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Power & Greed, Apathy, Conflict, Fear, Joy, Femininity, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Place, Social Class, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Biography, Historical Nonfiction, European History, Politics & Government

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Martin Eden

by Jack London

Publication year 1909

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Fate, Loneliness, Education, Self Discovery, Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, American Literature, Coming of Age, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Depression & Suicide, Education, Finance, Philosophy, Politics & Government, Poverty, Relationships, US History, World History, Classical Period, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction

Martin Eden is a 1909 novel by American author Jack London. Known for his stories of adventure and use of naturalism and realism, London authored more than 50 books, including Call of the Wild and White Fang, before his untimely death at age 40. London wrote Martin Eden at the height of his literary career, inspired by his own disillusionment with fame and literary critics. Although the protagonist’s individualist principles are at odds with London’s... Read Martin Eden Summary

Mary Barton

by Elizabeth Gaskell

Publication year 1848

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Femininity, Family, Social Class, Equality

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

Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester is the 1848 debut novel of Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. It tells of the Victorian working class in Manchester, England, from 1839 to 1842, focusing on the story of the eponymous young female heroine. Through the experiences of two families—the Bartons and the Wilsons—it explores contemporary political and domestic issues during a time of increased industrialization and class tensions. As with much of Gaskell’s work, Mary Barton is narrated by... Read Mary Barton Summary

Master and Man

by Leo Tolstoy

Publication year 1895

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Social Class, Economics

Tags Classic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Social Class, European History, Poverty, Russian Literature, World History, Philosophy, Philosophy

“Master and Man” is a short story, written in Russian, by Leo Tolstoy in 1895—a period of the author’s life often considered distinct from the early periods of his most famous novels. Having disowned these previous works, the 67-year-old began writing stories on ethical-religious themes. Set in post-reform Russia, when serfdom was abolished and capitalistic forms of work were redefining social life, “Master and Man” is also a commentary on the effects of the new... Read Master and Man Summary

Maurice

by E. M. Forster

Publication year 1971

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Sexual Identity, Shame & Pride, Social Class

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ+, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Love & Sexuality, British Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

Maurice (1971) is a coming-of-age novel and love story by English author E. M. Forster. Like much of Forster’s work, it straddles the realist and modernist eras; stylistically, it resembles the literature of the 19th century, but its themes—in particular, its depiction of unconscious experience—anticipate the work of writers like Virginia Woolf and D. H. Lawrence. Drafted between 1913 and 1914, it was not published until 1971—one year after Forster’s death—because of its subject matter;... Read Maurice Summary

Memory Wall

by Anthony Doerr

Publication year 2010

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Memory, Science & Technology, Hope, Death, Self Discovery, Social Class

Tags Science Fiction

Memory Wall (2010) is a collection of short stories by Anthony Doerr, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All the Light We Cannot See (2014). Doerr’s writing career began in 2002, with the publication of his short story collection The Shell Collector (2002), and he is also the author of novels About Grace (2004) and Cloud Cuckoo Land (2021), and a memoir titled Four Seasons in Rome (2007). Memory Wall won the 2011 Story Prize and... Read Memory Wall Summary

Metal Slinger

by Rachel Schneider

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Family, Social Class, Nation, Politics & Government, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, New Adult, Action & Adventure

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Midaq Alley

by Naguib Mahfouz

Publication year 1947

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Place, War, Social Class, Love

Tags African Literature, Heinemann African Writers, Historical Fiction, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction

Midaq Alley (1947) is a historical realist novel by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz, the 1988 Nobel Prize laureate in Literature. In this work, Mahfouz addresses the changes taking place in Egyptian society of the 1940s. The book tells the story of a group of neighbors living in Midaq Alley, a bustling market street, in the poor quarter of Cairo’s historic city center. The story is set at the end of World War II, during Britain’s... Read Midaq Alley Summary

Middlemarch

by George Eliot

Publication year 1871

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Community, Social Class

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

Middlemarch or Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life is a Victorian realist novel by George Eliot (the penname of Mary Ann Evans). Published over the course of 1871-72, the novel depicts the trials and tribulations of life in the small English town of Middlemarch. The novel has been hailed as one of the greatest works of English literature and has been adapted for radio, television, theater, and opera. Other works by Eliot include The Lifted... Read Middlemarch Summary

Midnight At The Blackbird Cafe

by Heather Webber

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Regret, Death, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Food, Daughters & Sons, Family, Grandparents, Mothers, Social Class, Community, Economics, Justice, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Southern Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy

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Midnight Magic

by Avi

Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Coming of Age, Social Class, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Children`s Literature, Medieval

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Mildred Pierce

by James M. Cain

Publication year 1941

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Social Class, Mothers, Daughters & Sons, Mental Health, Marriage, Gender Identity

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Relationships, Parenting, Social Class, Business & Economics, Finance, Great Depression, American Literature, Love & Sexuality, Gender & Feminism, World History, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

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Mind of My Mind

by Octavia E. Butler

Publication year 1977

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Loneliness, Love, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Race, Coming of Age, Future, Appearance & Reality, Family, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Gender & Feminism

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Miracle's Boys

by Jacqueline Woodson

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Coming of Age, Conflict, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Regret, Masculinity, Mental Health, Race, Death, The Past, Siblings, Social Class, Community, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Realistic Fiction, African American Literature

Miracle’s Boys (2000) is a young adult novel by Jaqueline Woodson. The novel tells the story of three brothers, ages 21, 15, and 12, coping with the sudden death of their mother a year before. The middle brother, Charlie, recently returned home from a juvenile detention facility, where he was serving a two-year sentence for attempting to rob a candy store at gun point. Set in a Puerto Rican neighborhood in New York City, Miracle’s... Read Miracle's Boys Summary

Miss Julie

by August Strindberg

Publication year 1888

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Femininity, Sexual Identity, Social Class, Power & Greed

Tags Drama, Naturalism, Scandinavian Literature, Social Class, Education, Education, Dramatic Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

Miss Julie is a naturalistic play produced in 1888 by the Swedish playwright and novelist August Strindberg. The play follows the acute romantic entanglement of the three characters: Miss Julie, a young aristocratic woman; Jean, her father’s well-read and well-traveled valet; and Kristine, the cook. Through the psychological battle of wills between Julie and the ruthless Jean, the play explores themes of Class Conflict and Social Hierarchy, Gender Roles and Power Dynamics, and The Complexity... Read Miss Julie Summary