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 Little Liar

by Mitch Albom

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Regret, Revenge, Death, Family, War, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Holocaust, Jewish Literature, Military & War, World History

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The Long Call

by Ann Cleeves

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Guilt, Sexual Identity, Family, Community, Justice, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Long Walk

by Stephen King

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Coming of Age, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Social Class

Tags Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Survival Fiction, Social Justice, Politics & Government, Social Class, Love & Sexuality

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The Lost Girls of Paris

by Pam Jenoff

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Teamwork, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, World War II, Military & War, French Literature, World History, Historical Fiction

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The Lost Heir

by Tui T. Sutherland

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Memory, Regret, Language, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Mothers, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, War, Equality, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Animals, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

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The Lottery

by Shirley Jackson

Publication year 1948

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Community, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense, American Literature, Science Fiction, Education, Education, Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction

"The Lottery" (1948) is a work of dystopian horror by writer Shirley Jackson. Though its bleak depiction of tradition and small-town life sparked consternation when it was first published, it has since become a classic American short story and has been anthologized and adapted many times. Jackson herself is also widely recognized as a key figure in the 20th-century mystery and horror genres—so much so that an award for horror, dark fantasy, and/or psychological suspense... Read The Lottery Summary

The Madness of Crowds

by Louise Penny

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Disability, Appearance & Reality, Death, Family, Teamwork, Community, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

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The Magician

by Colm Tóibín

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Conflict, Sexual Identity, Family, Marriage, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Art, Justice, Music, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, LGBTQ+, Military & War

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The Magic Lantern

by Timothy Garton Ash

Publication year 1990

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Justice, Conflict, Politics & Government

Tags European History, Politics & Government, World History, Travel Literature

The Magic Lantern is a 1989 work of narrative nonfiction by British historian Timothy Garton Ash. Garton Ash is a specialist in European studies with extensive experience writing about the history of Eastern Europe. The Magic Lantern is his third book on the region and followed several years of writing and reporting on Eastern European culture and politics under communism. He is currently Professor of European Studies in the University of Oxford, Isaiah Berlin Professorial... Read The Magic Lantern Summary

The Maid

by Nita Prose

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Grandparents, Coming of Age, Truth & Lies, Justice, Good & Evil

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Crime & Law

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The Maltese Falcon

by Dashiell Hammett

Publication year 1930

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Apathy, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Love, Memory, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Death, The Past, Beauty, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Order & Chaos, Art, Good & Evil, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Appearance & Reality, Politics & Government, Social Class, Community, Immigration

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Roaring Twenties, Great Depression

Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (1930) is a detective novel that was first serialized in the magazine Black Mask. As Hammett’s third novel, The Maltese Falcon includes the introduction of Sam Spade as the protagonist, a departure from the nameless Continental Op who narrated his previous stories. Spade’s hard exterior, cool detachment, and reliance on his own moral code would become staples of the hardboiled genre, and The Maltese Falcon has since been named one... Read The Maltese Falcon Summary

The Managed Heart

by Arlie Russell Hochschild

Publication year 1983

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Hate & Anger, Joy, Mental Health, Social Class, Community, Economics, Education, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Education, Education, Anthropology, Anthropology, Gender & Feminism, Social Science, Business & Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

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The Man Made of Smoke

by Alex North

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Conflict, Fear, Guilt, Loneliness, Memory, Revenge, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Place, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction

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The Man Who Lived Underground

by Richard Wright

Publication year 1942

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Justice

Tags Race & Racism, African American Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

“The Man Who Lived Underground” is a short story written by Black American writer Richard Wright. He originally conceived it as a novel. However, when he failed to secure a publisher, he shortened the story for publication in the literary journal Accent in 1942. A longer version was published as a novella in 1945 in Cross Section: A Collection of New American Writing. Wright died two months before the story’s inclusion in a 1961 anthology... Read The Man Who Lived Underground Summary