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.

And Then There Were None

by Agatha Christie

Publication year 1939

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Fate, Safety & Danger, Memory, The Past, Guilt, Conflict, Justice, Fear, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Femininity, Truth & Lies, Appearance & Reality, Apathy, Colonialism

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Modernism, Classic Fiction

Published in 1939, And Then There Were None is a mystery novel by Agatha Christie, best-selling novelist of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. With over 100 million copies sold, And Then There Were None is the world’s best-selling crime novel as well as one of the best-selling books of all time. It has had more adaptations than any other work by Agatha Christie, including television programs, films, radio broadcasts, and most... Read And Then There Were None Summary

Angel Of Greenwood

by Randi Pink

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Love, Race, Family, Friendship, Community, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Race & Racism, Social Justice, World History, Historical Fiction, Romance

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An Inspector Calls

by J.B. Priestley

Publication year 1945

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Drama, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, British Literature, Education, Education, Dramatic Literature, Classic Fiction

An Inspector Calls is a three-act play written by J. B. Priestley, first performed in 1947. In the play, an inspector questions a wealthy family about the death of a young woman who worked at the family’s factory. An Inspector Calls first premiered in Moscow in 1945 before showing in England. The play has been adapted for film, television, and radio, and a 1992 stage revival won a Laurence Olivier Award, a Drama Desk Award... Read An Inspector Calls Summary

Anna O

by Matthew Blake

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Disability, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Memory, Revenge, Mental Health, Justice

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Disability

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An Octoroon

by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Publication year 2015

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Equality, Social Class, Love, Gender Identity, Race, Marriage, Justice

Tags Drama, Race & Racism, Satirical Literature, Education, Education, American Literature, Dramatic Literature

... Read An Octoroon Summary

Antigone

by Jean Anouilh

Publication year 1944

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Politics & Government, Femininity, Justice

Tags Tragedy, French Literature, Education, Education, Dramatic Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

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A People’s History of the United States

by Howard Zinn

Publication year 1980

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Colonialism, Social Class, Immigration, Community, Economics, Hate & Anger, Perseverance, Conflict, Safety & Danger, Justice, Equality, Power & Greed

Tags US History, Politics & Government, Social Justice, Race & Racism, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States is one of the most famous American history books published in recent decades. It has sold over two million copies. First published in 1980, the book was nominated for the American Book Award and has gone through at least six major revisions. Although controversial when first published, the book has become comfortably mainstream. It is mentioned by name in the film Good Will Hunting and the... Read A People’s History of the United States Summary

A Photo Finish

by Elsie Silver

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Animals, Place, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Romance, New Adult

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A Place of Greater Safety

by Hilary Mantel

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes The Past, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags World History

A Place of Greater Safety (1992) by Hilary Mantel is a historical novel of the French Revolution told largely from the perspective of three lawyers turned revolutionary leaders: Camille Desmoulins, Maximillien Robespierre, and Georges Danton. The novel examines the psychological states and personal ties between these three key historic figures as they contribute to the overthrow of the French monarchy in 1789 and seek to consolidate and hold onto power in the first French Republic... Read A Place of Greater Safety Summary

Apology

by Plato

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Justice, Truth & Lies, Language

Tags Philosophy, Ancient Greece, Classical Period, Education, Education, Philosophy, World History, Classic Fiction, Politics & Government

Apology, also known as The Apology of Socrates, is a philosophical dialogue written by the Greek philosopher Plato chronicling the trial of his mentor Socrates in 399 BCE. After finding Socrates guilty of impiety and corrupting the youth, the Athenian jury sentenced him to death. Socrates carried out his own execution by drinking a mixture of poisonous hemlock. Although Plato likely took modest artistic liberties in the work, many historians believe Apology to be a... Read Apology Summary

Are Prisons Obsolete?

by Angela Y. Davis

Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Social Class, Community, Globalization, Economics, Education, Politics & Government, Justice, Equality, Literature, Power & Greed

Tags Politics & Government, Race & Racism, Social Justice, US History, Sociology, Gender & Feminism, World History, Philosophy, Philosophy

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Artemis Fowl

by Eoin Colfer

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Perseverance, Wins & Losses, Safety & Danger, Power & Greed, Justice, Trust & Doubt, Teamwork, Environment, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mythology, Children`s Literature

Artemis Fowl (2001) is the first of 11 fantasy novels in the Fowl Adventures series. It was written by Eoin Colfer, an Irish writer, and details the titular character’s attempt to restore his family’s fortune by kidnapping an elf named Holly Short. Taking place in Colfer’s home country of Ireland, the novel is also his first foray into the fantasy genre. The novel explores themes of community, environmentalism, and the line between magic and science.In... Read Artemis Fowl Summary