Colonialism & Postcolonialism

With best-selling novels like Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible and influential academic texts such as Edward Said's Orientalism, this collection gathers books from across genres to explore the complex dynamics and lasting legacies of colonialism.

The Henna Artist

by Alka Joshi

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Gender Identity, Femininity

Tags Historical Fiction, World History, Indian Literature, Arts & Culture

The Henna Artist (2020) is a novel by Indian American author Alka Joshi and the first book in The Jaipur Trilogy. The story takes place in 1950s India and follows 17-year-old Lakshmi as she escapes an abusive marriage and moves to Jaipur to become a henna artist. The protagonist is based on the author’s mother, who was not able to choose her own path in life but was determined that her children would have that... Read The Henna Artist Summary

The Heretic's Daughter

by Kathleen Kent

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Death, Future, The Past, Food, Family, Mothers, Colonialism, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, US History

The Heretic’s Daughter (2008) is the debut novel of author Kathleen Kent. Upon publication, it immediately made the New York Times bestseller list. Kent followed this title with two other best-selling historical fiction works: The Traitor’s Wife (2010) and The Outcasts (2013). She also wrote a crime fiction trilogy that was nominated for an Edgar Award. A resident of Texas, Kent was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in 2020 for her contribution to... Read The Heretic's Daughter Summary

The Human Web

by John Robert Mcneill, William H. Mcneill

Publication year 2003

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Climate, Environment, Food, Place, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Science & Technology

Tags Education, Education, Anthropology, Anthropology, Science & Nature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics & Government, World History, Sociology

... Read The Human Web Summary

The Hummingbird's Daughter

by Luis Alberto Urrea

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Indigenous Identity, Family, Fathers, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Latin American Literature

Written by Luis Alberto Urrea in 2005, The Hummingbird’s Daughter is a fictional account of the life of Teresa Urrea, a woman whose mystical powers and religious fervor earned her the reputation of a living saint in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Luis Alberto Urrea is a distant cousin of Teresa and grew up hearing about her. He eventually researched her life through his family connections and the communities that she helped. The novel... Read The Hummingbird's Daughter Summary

The Immoralist

by Andre Gide

Publication year 1902

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Colonialism, Sexual Identity, Masculinity

Tags LGBTQ+, Classic Fiction, Travel Literature, Gender & Feminism, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, French Literature, World History, Philosophy, Philosophy

... Read The Immoralist Summary

The Immortal Irishman

by Timothy Egan

Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Indigenous Identity, Language, Race, The Past, Colonialism, Community, Immigration, Nation, War, Equality, Justice, Wins & Losses

Tags Irish Literature, Biography, US History, Military & War, World History

The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero (2016), by American author and journalist Timothy Egan, is a biography of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionary and American Civil War hero who later became the governor of the Montana Territory. Egan's narrative captures Meagher's tumultuous journey, from his fight for Irish independence to his contributions in America, focusing on broader themes of exile, resilience, and identity. Egan contextualizes Meagher’s life against the... Read The Immortal Irishman Summary

The Inconvenient Indian

by Thomas King

Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Indigenous Identity, Race, Politics & Government, Colonialism

Tags US History, Race & Racism, History

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America is a 2012 nonfiction book by Thomas King about the history of relations between Indigenous people and American settler colonialism. King is a novelist of Cherokee descent, and The Inconvenient Indian is his first book of nonfiction. The book was awarded the CBA Libris Award for Best Non-Fiction Book in 2013. This guide follows the first edition of the book.Content Warning: Both the... Read The Inconvenient Indian Summary

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, the African

by Olaudah Equiano

Publication year 1789

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Equality, Good & Evil, Race, Literature, Colonialism

Tags Race & Racism, History: African

Originally published in 1789, Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by Himself is a slave narrative in which the author recounts his childhood, capture, life as an enslaved person, and emancipation. With its descriptions of life among the Igbo and the author’s experience of the Middle Passage, the book is a key text for studying the transatlantic slave trade and lives of people of... Read The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, the African Summary

The Jasad Heir

by Sara Hashem

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Love, Revenge, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, The Past, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Nation, War, Justice

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Action & Adventure

... Read The Jasad Heir Summary

The Joys of Motherhood

by Buchi Emecheta

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Daughters & Sons, Colonialism

Tags African Literature, Gender & Feminism, Historical Fiction, Women`s Studies, African American Literature, Classic Fiction

The Joys of Motherhood (1979) is a historical fiction novel by Buchi Emecheta. Set in both rural and urban Nigerian locales over several decades, the novel explores changes in the roles and status of women against the backdrop of colonialism. It follows the life of Nnu Ego, a woman whose identity and self-worth are deeply intertwined with her role as a mother.This guide is based on the 1990 George Braziller edition of the text. It... Read The Joys of Motherhood Summary

The Jungle Book

by Rudyard Kipling

Publication year 1894

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Animals, Colonialism

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Animals, Symbolic Narrative, Children`s Literature, Indian Literature

The Jungle Book is a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling first published in 1894. Rudyard Kipling was born to a British family living in India and spent the first six years of his life there before being sent to England for schooling. Kipling’s works reflect his colonialist upbringing and support for British imperial rule over India, as well as ideas of European racial and cultural superiority developed in the Victorian Era. While the seven... Read The Jungle Book Summary