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 Radicalism of the American Revolution

by Gordon S. Wood

Publication year 1991

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality

Tags US History, American Revolution, Politics & Government, American Literature, World History

The Radicalism of the American Revolution (1991) is a non-fiction book written by American historian and Brown University professor Gordon S. Wood. Most revolutions are an act of violence that result in deaths, property destruction, and a world turned upside down. Americans do not see the American Revolution this way. The American founding fathers were educated men who wrote pamphlets and spoke openly in legislative halls. As the story goes, they were gentlemen, not radicals... Read The Radicalism of the American Revolution Summary

The Reckoning

by John Grisham

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Guilt, Grief, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, War, Social Class, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Race, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Femininity, Masculinity, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Marriage, Mothers, Siblings, Death, Coming of Age, The Past, Nation

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Crime & Law, Race & Racism, Military & War, World History

... Read The Reckoning Summary

There Is No Place for Us

by Brian Goldstone

Publication year 2025

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Race, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Sociology, Politics & Government, Political Science, Journalism, Poverty, Urban Studies

... Read There Is No Place for Us Summary

The River Between

by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

Publication year 1965

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Place, Family, Fathers, Colonialism, Community, Education, Religion & Spirituality

Tags African Literature, Historical Fiction, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, African American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

The River Between is Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s second novel and was published in 1965 after his debut title, Weep Not, Child. While The River Between is widely interpreted as an anticolonial work, its denouncement of colonial institutions is subtler than that of Ngugi’s later, more critical works on colonialism. His later novels were originally written in the Gikuyu language rather than in English; discourse surrounding the modern-day role of African literature is ongoing... Read The River Between Summary

The Secret Agent

by Joseph Conrad

Publication year 1907

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Politics & Government, Power & Greed

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

The Secret Agent is a novel by British Polish writer Joseph Conrad, first published in 1907. Set in London in 1886, it portrays Adolf Verloc as the titular secret agent who works for a powerful but unnamed country, likely Russia. The novel has been adapted for film and television under various titles. This guide uses the 2008 Oxford World Classic’s edition of The Secret Agent. Content warning: This text discusses suicide, abuse, and ableism.Plot SummaryAdolf... Read The Secret Agent Summary

The Setting Sun and the Rolling World

by Charles Mungoshi

Publication year 1987

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Daughters & Sons, Religion & Spirituality

Tags History: African , Religion & Spirituality, Race & Racism, African Literature, Colonialism & Postcolonialism

The Setting Sun and the Rolling World is a short story collection published in 1987 by Zimbabwean author Charles Mungoshi. Across 17 stories, Mungoshi explores profound cultural divides in his native country between tradition and modernization, rural and urban life, and colonialism and African nationalism. Although the characters are different in each piece, taken together the stories comprise a coming-of-age narrative, as the protagonist of each tale is generally a little older and more experienced... Read The Setting Sun and the Rolling World Summary

The Shadow King

by Maaza Mengiste

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Regret, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Race, Social Class, Colonialism, Nation, War

Tags African American Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Military & War, History: African

... Read The Shadow King Summary

The Sheltering Sky

by Paul Bowles

Publication year 1949

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Marriage, Death

Tags Historical Fiction, Post-War Era, Trauma & Abuse, Psychological Fiction, Love & Sexuality, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, American Literature, Travel Literature, Classic Fiction

An American writer and composer who lived in Morocco for most of his life, Paul Bowles was a peripheral member of the post-World War II counter-cultural group of writers known as the Beat generation. The Sheltering Sky (1949), his first novel, is his best-known work, although he wrote other novels, numerous short stories, and works of nonfiction, most notably travel narratives. He also translated several works by Moroccan writers. The Sheltering Sky was adapted into... Read The Sheltering Sky Summary

The Sign of the Beaver

by Elizabeth George Speare

Publication year 1983

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Race, Coming of Age, Masculinity, Self Discovery, Colonialism

Tags Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Coming of Age, US History, Race & Racism, American Literature, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction

Published in 1983, The Sign of the Beaver is a historical adventure novel for middle grade readers written by Elizabeth George Speare. Based on a true story that took place in 1760s Colonial America, the book follows the adventures of a young English boy who, while living alone in the Maine wilderness, befriends a local Penobscot boy who teaches him how to survive. The experience changes his views of himself, his family and fellow colonists... Read The Sign of the Beaver Summary

The Sign of the Four

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Publication year 1890

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Colonialism, Power & Greed

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Sign of Four is the second Sherlock Holmes novel by famed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. First published in February 1890 in the popular literary magazine Lippincott’s under the title “The Sign of the Four; or the Problem of the Sholtos,” its title was shortened to The Sign of Four when it was published in book format in October 1890. The Sign of Four has been adapted many times for the stage, radio... Read The Sign of the Four Summary