Books on Justice & Injustice

James Baldwin said, "It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." In this collection, we've compiled texts that explore the idea of what justice is — and how it can thrive.

The Bet

by Anton Chekhov

Publication year 1889

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Justice, Death

Tags Classic Fiction, Russian Literature, Philosophy

“The Bet” is one of over 500 short stories by Russian literary giant Anton Chekov. Published in 1889, the story addresses related and intertwined themes of life and death, theoretical versus empirical knowledge, and confinement versus freedom.Considered a master of short fiction and, along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, a founder of Modernist theater, Chekov is one of the late-19th-century writers who have reached 21st-century readers and audiences most powerfully and widely. “The Bet”... Read The Bet Summary

The Betrothed

by Alessandro Manzoni

Publication year 1827

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Forgiveness, Grief, Hope, Love, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Coming of Age, Death, Marriage, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, War, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Romance, Italian Literature, World History

The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi), published in 1827 and revised in 1842, is a historical novel by Italian author Alessandro Manzoni. The novel follows two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, in 1600s Lombardy; their courtship is derailed by a jealous plot to prevent their marriage, ultimately leading them to the plague-stricken city of Milan, where they face many struggles. The Betrothed is heralded as one of the most important and widely read Italian novels. This... Read The Betrothed Summary

The Black Echo

by Michael Connelly

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, War, Teamwork, Mental Health

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Grief & Death, Trauma & Abuse, US History, Asian History, Military & War

The Black Echo (1992) is Michael Connelly’s first novel and the first book in the long-running series featuring Los Angeles police detective Harry Bosch. It won the 1993 Edgar Award for Best First Novel and is now a classic in the modern crime genre. Connelly, who worked as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times while starting his career as a novelist, has written over 37 novels, including 24 featuring Detective Bosch. His works... Read The Black Echo Summary

The Book of Lost Names

by Kristin Harmel

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Justice, Truth & Lies, Guilt, Perseverance, Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Love & Sexuality, European History, Holocaust, Military & War, World History, Romance

... Read The Book of Lost Names Summary

The Bourne Identity

by Robert Ludlum

Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Memory, Mental Health, The Past, Self Discovery, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

... Read The Bourne Identity Summary

The Breadwinner

by Deborah Ellis

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Justice, War, Family, Gender Identity

Tags Children`s Literature, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Education, Education, Military & War, World History

The Breadwinner, also known as Parvana, is a 2000 children’s novel by Canadian author and activist Deborah Ellis. It centers on an 11-year-old girl named Parvana who, due to her family’s circumstances, is forced to defy the Taliban and their repressive laws to become the breadwinner for her family. Exploring themes of human connection, maturation and bravery, and the repression of women, The Breadwinner was critically acclaimed upon its release and has had over 40... Read The Breadwinner Summary

The Brothers Karamazov

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Publication year 1879

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hate & Anger, Guilt, Love, Religion & Spirituality, Justice, Good & Evil

Tags Russian Literature, Dramatic Literature, Religion & Spirituality

Written in the last two years of the author’s life, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s final novel, The Brothers Karamazov (1880), is the culmination of a politically fraught career spent pursuing a full, unsentimental vision of humanity. Dostoevsky is famous for his work’s distinctive psychological nuance—particularly involving pathological dimensions of self-destruction and misguided sentimental altruism—and has deeply influenced Western schools of theology, existentialism, and literary modernism.The eponymous brothers are the four sons (including Pavel, implied to be Fyodor's... Read The Brothers Karamazov Summary

The Buddha in the Attic

by Julie Otsuka

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Race, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Immigration & Refugeeism, Social Class, US History, Race & Racism, American Literature, World War II, Asian Literature, World History, Japanese Literature

Julie Otsuka is a Japanese American writer who was born in 1962 in Palo Alto, California. Both The Buddha in the Attic (2011) and her 2002 novel, When the Emperor was Divine, portray the Japanese American experience of internment camps following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The subject is close to Otsuka’s heart; the FBI arrested her grandfather on suspicion of being an enemy spy, while her mother, uncle, and grandmother were... Read The Buddha in the Attic Summary

The Burgess Boys

by Elizabeth Strout

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Guilt, Conflict, Forgiveness, Grief, Race, Siblings, Self Discovery, Immigration, Politics & Government, War, Justice

Tags American Literature

Elizabeth Strout’s novel The Burgess Boys, published in 2013, explores the relationships between adult siblings during a time of family crisis. It examines the ways that past events and traumas continue to shape one’s sense of self. Set amid a Somali refugee crisis in the state of Maine, it also explores the ways that identity forms community and the way that community can be affected by newcomers.The author of 10 novels, Strout is acclaimed for... Read The Burgess Boys Summary

The Burning God

by R. F. Kuang

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hate & Anger, Nostalgia, Revenge, Place, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, World History

... Read The Burning God Summary