Books that Feature the Theme of Masculinity

This thematic Collection centers books that explore the concepts of manhood and masculinity. Through novels, plays, and literary genres, a diverse chorus of authors examines various interpretations of masculine identity and the masculine experience through coming-of-age stories, war narratives, and fantasy realms.

Greater Love

by Wilfred Owen

Publication year 1918

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Love, War, Death, Masculinity, Truth & Lies

Tags Lyric Poem, Military & War, Grief & Death, Trauma & Abuse, European History, World War I, British Literature, The Lost Generation

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Gunga Din

by Rudyard Kipling

Publication year 1890

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Guilt, Memory, Shame & Pride, Disability, Masculinity, Race, Death, Colonialism, War, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Classic Fiction, Military & War

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Hands

by Sherwood Anderson

Publication year 1919

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Fear, Masculinity, Appearance & Reality

Tags American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

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Heart of a Champion

by Carl Deuker

Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Friendship, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, Mothers, Masculinity, Fathers, Grief, Wins & Losses

Tags Sports, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Relationships, Coming of Age, Grief & Death, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Originally published in 1993, Heart of a Champion is a young adult novel written by award-winning author Carl Deuker, whose work is primarily about sports and intended for young adult readers. The novel is the first-person narrative of a California boy, Seth, whose father died prematurely, leaving a huge void. Seth befriends Jimmy, whose love of baseball quickly becomes Seth’s passion as well. After the death of his friend after an alcohol-induced car crash, Seth... Read Heart of a Champion Summary

Heart of a Dog

by Mikhail Bulgakov

Publication year 1925

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Coming of Age, Animals, Nature Versus Nurture, Social Class, Nation, War, Science & Technology

Tags Satirical Literature, Science Fiction, Russian Literature, Symbolic Narrative

The Heart of a Dog (1925) is a novella by Russian author and playwright Mikhail Bulgakov. During his lifetime, Bulgakov was celebrated as a playwright in the Soviet Union, but his works often faced censorship by authorities due to their satirical critiques of Soviet life and government. The Heart of a Dog is a satirical science fiction tale of a surgeon who uses organ transplants to transform a stray dog into a man. It deals... Read Heart of a Dog Summary

Heart-Shaped Box

by Joe Hill

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Guilt, Love, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, Fathers, Self Discovery, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Heart-Shaped Box (2007) is the debut novel of horror writer Joe Hill, son of the famous Stephen King. The novel is a contemporary Gothic story about Judas “Jude” Coyne, a retired rock star hunted by a ghost. His confrontation with the ghost forces him and his girlfriend, Marybeth “Georgia” Kimball, to confront their respective pasts and current relationship. Hill went on to publish novels such as Horns (2010), NOS4A2 (2013), and The Fireman (2016), as... Read Heart-Shaped Box Summary

High Fidelity

by Nick Hornby

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Masculinity, Music

Tags Humor, Music, Romance, Relationships, Love & Sexuality, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

High Fidelity is a 1995 fiction novel by the English author Nick Hornby. It tells the story of Rob Fleming, an obsessive music fan who examines his top five worst break ups to understand his most recent heartbreak. The book was adapted into a musical, a television series, and 2000 film starring John Cusack and directly by Stephen Frears.Plot SummaryRob Fleming is the 35-year-old owner of a record store in London. When his girlfriend Laura... Read High Fidelity Summary

Holiday Romance

by Catherine Walsh

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Loneliness, Love, Nostalgia, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, The Past, Family, Self Discovery, Immigration, Fate

Tags Special Occasions, Romance

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How Does It Feel?

by Jeneane O'Riley

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Plants, Family, Mothers, Self Discovery, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Horror & Suspense, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Religion & Spirituality

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Identity: Youth and Crisis

by Erik Erikson

Publication year 1968

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Education, Femininity, Gender Identity, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Race, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Science & Technology

Tags Philosophy, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Parenting, Sociology

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