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.

Caleb Williams

by William Godwin

Publication year 1794

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Justice, Social Class, Good & Evil, Shame & Pride

Tags Classic Fiction, Education, Education, Horror & Suspense, British Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature, World History

Caleb Williams, written by William Godwin, is one of the first crime novels in English literature as well as a critique of the injustices and inequities of the political and social system in Britain during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Godwin passionately believed that the social hierarchy that placed the upper class over the lower class was unjust and that the law enabled a tyrannical abuse of power. Although many felt that Caleb Williams... Read Caleb Williams Summary

Caliban's War

by James S. A. Corey

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Hope, Love, Disability, Indigenous Identity, Mental Health, Future, Climate, Environment, Objects & Materials, Family, Teamwork, Social Class, Colonialism, Globalization, Politics & Government, War, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Military & War

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Cane River

by Lalita Tademy

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Fear, Race, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Social Class, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Race & Racism, Southern Literature, African American Literature

Cane River (2001) by Lalita Tademy is a story about four generations of women from Tademy’s family. Set in the United States, the novel progresses from the era of enslavement to Post-Reconstruction. In retelling her family’s history, Tademy chooses to pen a work of historical metafiction, blurring the boundary between recorded events and imaginative stories in order to capture the essence of who the women in her family truly were. In the final reckoning, the... Read Cane River Summary

Captive Prince

by C. S. Pacat

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Love & Sexuality, Romance

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Capture The Flag

by Kate Messner

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes The Past, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Teamwork, Social Class, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature

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Chances Are . . .

by Richard Russo

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Memory, Regret, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Family, Friendship, Social Class, Music, Truth & Lies

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

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Checkers

by Richard Nixon

Publication year 1952

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Social Class, Economics, Politics & Government, Truth & Lies

Tags Politics & Government, US History, Cold War

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Children of Blood and Bone

by Tomi Adeyemi

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Social Class, Colonialism

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action & Adventure, Trauma & Abuse

Children of Blood and Bone (2018) by Tomi Adeyemi is a young adult fantasy novel and the first book in the Legacy of Orϊsha trilogy. Adeyemi is a Nigerian American author and creative writing coach who graduated from Harvard University with a degree in English literature. Following her graduation, she studied West African mythology in Brazil, which partly inspired her to write Children of Blood and Bone. Adeyemi also wrote Children of Blood and Bone... Read Children of Blood and Bone Summary

China Rich Girlfriend

by Kevin Kwan

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Economics, Social Class, Shame & Pride, Love

Tags Humor, Satirical Literature, Romance, Asian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Chinese Literature

China Rich Girlfriend is an adult novel published by Doubleday in 2015, the sequel to Singapore-born author Kevin Kwan’s internationally bestselling romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians (2013) and second in a trilogy which concludes with Rich People Problems (2017). Billed as a satire, a mock-epic, and a sprawling family saga that peers into the lives of the ultra-wealthy in Asia, China Rich Girlfriend depicts the efforts of Rachel Chu, a Chinese-born American university professor, and... Read China Rich Girlfriend Summary

Christine

by Stephen King

Publication year 1983

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Safety & Danger, Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Nostalgia, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction

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Christy

by Catherine Marshall

Publication year 1967

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Place, Social Class, Religion & Spirituality

Tags World History, Religion & Spirituality, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Christian, Romance, Inspirational

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Chronicles

by Jean Froissart

Publication year 1400

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes War, Religion & Spirituality, Power & Greed, Social Class

Tags European History, Medieval, Military & War, Social Class, Religion & Spirituality, World History, French Literature, Classic Fiction

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Class Act

by Jerry Craft

Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Education, Race, Self Discovery, Social Class, Equality, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Diversity, Education, Race & Racism, African American Literature, Children`s Literature, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

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Class

by Stephanie Land

Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Mothers, Social Class, Perseverance, Shame & Pride, Education

Tags Poverty, Social Justice, Education, Education, Sociology, Biography, Politics & Government

... Read Class Summary