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.

Astor

by Anderson Cooper, Katherine Howe

Publication year 2023

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Mental Health, The Past, Social Class, Community, Economics, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Fame, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed

Tags US History, Politics & Government, Business & Economics

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A Thousand Steps into Night

by Traci Chee

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Grief, Hope, Love, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Beauty, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Appearance & Reality, Space, Animals, Place, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Fathers, Family, Teamwork, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Social Class

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mythology, Coming of Age, Historical Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Asian Literature, Japanese Literature

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At Swim-Two-Birds

by Flann O'Brien

Publication year 1939

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Social Class, Fate, The Past, Power & Greed, Good & Evil, Trust & Doubt, Conflict

Tags Irish Literature, Humor, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Satirical Literature, Arts & Culture, Social Class, British Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

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Automating Inequality

by Virginia Eubanks

Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Economics, Justice, Social Class, Politics & Government, Equality, Race

Tags Technology, Politics & Government, Sociology, Science & Nature, Social Justice, Race & Racism, Poverty, Social Class, US History, Technology, Business & Economics, World History

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A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

by Gabriel García Márquez

Publication year 1968

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Language, Social Class

Tags Magical Realism, Poverty, Latin American Literature

Revered Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez first published “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”—a work of magical realism—in 1968. Gregory Rabassa translated the short story into English in 1971, and all quotes in this guide refer to this edition.The story begins as a man named Pelayo kills crabs that heavy rains have washed into his house. In the muddy yard, Pelayo finds that something else has also washed up: an old man who cannot... Read A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings Summary

A Voice from the South

by Anna Julia Cooper

Publication year 1892

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Femininity, Race, Social Class, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice

Tags Race & Racism, African American Literature, Gender & Feminism, US History, Sociology, World History, Social Justice, Classic Fiction, Politics & Government

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A Week in the Woods

by Andrew Clements

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Self Discovery, Environment, Climate

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Education, Education

Written by Andrew Clements, A Week in the Woods is a middle-grade realistic survival fiction novel originally published in 2002. It is part of the Hardy Elementary collection of books by the same author. It focuses on the initially antagonistic relationship between an upper-class fifth grader named Mark and his classist science teacher, Bill Maxwell. The novel explores how the two characters eventually come to forgive and understand one another when they must help each... Read A Week in the Woods Summary

A Woman of No Importance

by Oscar Wilde

Publication year 1893

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Conflict, Femininity, Gender Identity, Truth & Lies

Tags Drama, Comedy & Satire, Victorian Era, World History, Dramatic Literature, Humor, Classic Fiction

A Woman of No Importance is a play by Oscar Wilde that was first performed in 1893. It is one of Wilde’s four drawing room plays, which satirize English high society, but critics often consider this play to be his least successful. The action of the play takes place at a party held at Lady Hunstanton’s English country estate and depicts the conflict that arises when Lord Illingworth, a wealthy and charming aristocrat, encounters his... Read A Woman of No Importance Summary

A Woman on a Roof

by Doris Lessing

Publication year 1963

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Sexual Identity, Gender Identity, Social Class, Hate & Anger

Tags Gender & Feminism, Post-War Era, British Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

Originally published in 1963 in the short story collection A Man and Two Women, “A Woman on a Roof” by Doris Lessing emerged during a time of social and political upheaval in the Western world. Like many of Lessing’s other works, the story explores the effects of class inequality and the misunderstandings between men and women that arise in a patriarchal culture. Lessing was born in former Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and moved to London... Read A Woman on a Roof Summary

Babylon's Ashes

by James S. A. Corey

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Hope, Revenge, Death, Future, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Objects & Materials, Place, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

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Ballet Shoes

by Noel Streatfeild

Publication year 1936

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Childhood & Youth, Future, Family, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Economics, Art, Beauty, Fate, Literature, Education, Social Class

Tags Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Historical Fiction, British Literature

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