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.
Publication year 1993
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Indian Literature, Diversity, Religion / Spirituality, Asian Literature, Classic Fiction
A River Sutra, a novel by Indian American author Gita Mehta, was first published in 1993. The novel is set on the banks of the Narmada River in India, and it is comprised of interconnected stories about characters who are drawn to the river. The narrator seeks to retreat from the world after his wife’s death, but he gains an appreciation for the lived experiences of humanity through the stories he hears. The novel discusses... Read A River Sutra Summary
Publication year 1908
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Femininity, Self Discovery, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags British Literature, Italian Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Satire, Edwardian Era
A Room with a View is a 1908 historical fiction/romance novel by British author E. M. Forster. The novel is split between Italy and England, telling the story of Lucy Honeychurch, a young and spirited middle-class Englishwoman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery during a trip to Italy. During her travels, Lucy falls in love with the free-spirited and unconventional George Emerson, a fellow tourist, but is later forced to choose between her heart's... Read A Room with a View Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Humor
Publication year 1891
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Society: Class
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction
“A Scandal in Bohemia” (1891) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has the distinction of being the first short story to feature literature’s most famous sleuth, Sherlock Holmes. The Sherlock Holmes stories were originally serialized in The Strand Magazine, and the famous British literary magazine published Doyle’s works from 1891 to 1930. Doyle also featured his iconic amateur detective in four novels and several collections, including A Study in Scarlet (1887), The Sign of Four (1890)... Read A Scandal in Bohemia Summary
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Irish Literature, History: World
Written in 2002 by Mary Jane Auch, Ashes of Roses is a historical fiction novel that follows a young Irish immigrant named Rose Nolan as she comes to New York City with her family. Seeking a better life in America, Rose finds work at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. The novel chronicles her experiences as an immigrant and a factory worker and examines the events up to the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. Through... Read Ashes Of Roses Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: War
Tags Fantasy
Publication year 1877
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Realism, Realistic Fiction, French Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
A Simple Heart is a novella by Gustave Flaubert that appeared in his book Three Tales. The title has also been translated as A Simple Soul. The story follows the kind and loving maidservant Félicité from her youth to her death and details the many loves that she loses along the way, exploring themes of The Power of Social Class, The Value of a Personal Relationship With God, and The Omnipresence of Death. This guide... Read A Simple Heart Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags History: World, Biography, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 1983
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Society: Class, Identity: Gender
Tags Grief / Death, American Literature, Class, Drama / Tragedy, Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
“A Small, Good Thing” is one of Raymond Carver’s most decorated short stories. It was first printed in heavily edited form as “The Bath” in a 1981 edition of Columbia. When Carver reworked the story for his 1983 collection Cathedral, he titled this more complete version “A Small, Good Thing.” In this form, the story won the coveted O. Henry award and appeared in the year’s Pushcart Prize Annual. A work of literary realism, “A... Read A Small Good Thing Summary
Publication year 1988
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Creative Nonfiction, Afro-Caribbean Literature, History: World, Politics / Government, Black Lives Matter, Education, Education, Travel Literature, Classic Fiction
A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid is a work of creative nonfiction originally published in 1988. Kincaid shares memories of her home country, Antigua, both while it was under colonial rule and self-governance. She illustrates how life has and hasn’t changed for Antiguan citizens because of government corruption, the legacies of slavery, and the preoccupation with tourism over public welfare. Though the book won no awards, Kincaid has won a plethora of awards for her... Read A Small Place Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Disability, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2023
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Business / Economics
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Publication year 1897
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Class
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Class
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mythology, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Asian Literature, Japanese Literature
Publication year 1895
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Economics, Identity: Race
Publication year 1939
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Fate, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Irish Literature, Humor, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Satire, Arts / Culture, Class, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1892
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Class, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Classic Fiction, Southern Literature, Gender / Feminism