Class

This thematic collection covers texts that investigate the particularly fraught dynamics and divisions of class, including Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and Ernesto Galarza's Barrio Boy.

In A Grove

by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Publication year 1922

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Shame & Pride, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Japanese Literature, Modernism, Asian Literature

Though Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) died at age 35, he is often regarded as the father of the Japanese short story. During the middle of the 20th century, when Japanese cinema became interested in its national history and cultural heritage, Akutagawa’s work was adapted by filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa. Because American Westerns had a close relationship with samurai films, Akutagawa’s stories have even been transposed onto the Wild West, resulting in such films as The... Read In A Grove Summary

Incarceron

by Catherine Fisher

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Social Class, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Incarceration

Incarceron (2007) is a young adult dystopian science fiction novel by Catherine Fisher. One protagonist, Finn, is incarcerated in a high-tech, sentient prison, and the other, Claudia, is the Warden’s daughter. While Finn tries to escape Incarceron, Claudia rebels against the Realm’s restrictive laws, which outlaw modern technologies and knowledge. She also endeavors to free herself from an arranged marriage to a boy she hates. The novel explores the true meaning of freedom, the dangers... Read Incarceron Summary

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

by Harriet Jacobs

Publication year 1861

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Social Class, Power & Greed

Tags Inspirational, Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, US History, African American Literature, American Civil War, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction, Biography

The memoir Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861) is an account of the life of Harriet Ann Jacobs, who calls herself “Linda Brent” in the narrative. It is a key text in the slave narrative genre, which were first-person narratives written by formerly enslaved people that hoped to convert readers to the abolitionist cause. While most such narratives were written by men, such as The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah... Read Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Summary

Intermezzo

by Sally Rooney

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Forgiveness, Love, Nostalgia, Regret, Disability, Mental Health, Midlife, Place, Siblings, Social Class, Economics, Literature, Wins & Losses

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

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Invisible Child

by Andrea Elliott

Publication year 2021

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Race, Social Class, Education, Loyalty & Betrayal, Justice

Tags Race & Racism, Social Justice, Poverty, Sociology, World History, Politics & Government, Biography

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Ironwood

by Michael Connelly

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Love, Femininity, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, Future, Climate, Environment, Plants, Place, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Immigration, Politics & Government, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Horror & Suspense

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Isola

by Allegra Goodman

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Love, Perseverance, Gender Identity, Death, Nature Versus Nurture, Social Class

Tags Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction

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I Stand Here Ironing

by Tillie Olsen

Publication year 1961

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Daughters & Sons, Femininity, Guilt, Social Class

Tags Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction

“I Stand Here Ironing” was originally published in 1961 in Tell Me a Riddle, Tillie Olsen’s first collection of short stories. Since then, it has greatly impacted feminist scholars and creative writers alike and is often anthologized. The short story is an intimate exploration of one woman’s experience with motherhood between the 1930 and 1950s. Her oldest daughter, Emily, is 19 years old and has been neglected and separated from the narrator due to factors... Read I Stand Here Ironing Summary

Jacob's Room

by Virginia Woolf

Publication year 1922

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Social Class, Education, War

Tags British Literature, Classic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Jacob’s Room (1922) is a novel by Virginia Woolf. The novel is considered to be Woolf’s first experimental novel and a landmark in Modernist literature, notable for its fragmented narrative structure and indirect characterization. Through shifting perspectives and lyrical prose, Woolf reconstructs the life of a young English man named Jacob Flanders in the early 20th century. The novel explores The Ineffability of Individual Identity, Navigating Social Norms in a Changing World, and The Complexities... Read Jacob's Room Summary

Jesse

by Gary Soto

Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Loneliness, Masculinity, Race, Family, Friendship, Community, War, Art, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Social Class

Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts & Culture, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Agriculture, Social Class, US History, Poverty, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Vietnam War

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Jesus and John Wayne

by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fear, Nostalgia, Masculinity, Race, Sexual Identity, Family, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

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Jews Without Money

by Michael Gold

Publication year 1930

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Immigration, Social Class, Justice

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Historical Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Social Class, Poverty, Social Justice, American Literature, Education, Education, Jewish Literature, World History, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Jews Without Money is a semi-autobiographical 1930 novel by Itzok Isaac Granich, published under Granich’s pseudonym, Mike Gold. The book charts the impoverished conditions of the Lower East Side of New York City and the experiences of growing up in a community of predominantly Jewish immigrants in the early 20th century. Growing up in such a difficult environment informed the author’s socialist politics as an adult. Plot SummaryMike Gold is born and raised by a... Read Jews Without Money Summary