Marriage

"It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages," said philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The texts in this collection depict happy and unhappy marriages—and those that fall somewhere in between.

The Storyteller's Secret

by Sejal Badani

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Social Class, Friendship, Community, Literature, Mothers, Love, Marriage

Tags Realistic Fiction, Indian Literature, Asian History, Gender & Feminism, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Historical Fiction, Romance, Arts & Culture

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The Subjection of Women

by John Stuart Mill

Publication year 1869

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Equality, Marriage, Nature Versus Nurture

Tags Gender & Feminism, Women`s Studies, Philosophy, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics & Government

The book-length essay The Subjection of Women was written in 1869 by John Stuart Mill, an English philosopher known for his progressive, utilitarian ideas. The essay includes four chapters and was published in London by Lonmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer publishers. The Subjection of Women is a persuasive argument, laying out the problem of women’s legal, marital, and societal oppression to show that gender equality is necessary to ensure social justice, improve societal progress, and... Read The Subjection of Women Summary

The Swallows of Kabul

by Yasmina Khadra

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Fear, Marriage, Community, Politics & Government

Tags Historical Fiction, Trauma & Abuse

The Swallows of Kabul (2002) is the 11th published work by Mohammed Moulessehoul. It is published under the pen name Yasmina Khadra, derived from Moulessehoul’s wife’s first two names, to circumvent military censorship of works published by soldiers. Moulessehoul has written extensively regarding his experiences in the military as an Algerian, exploring themes and events across the Arab and French worlds. The Swallows of Kabul is a work of historical fiction, taking place during the... Read The Swallows of Kabul Summary

The Sweetness of Water

by Nathan Harris

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Memory, Masculinity, Race, Sexual Identity, The Past, Marriage, Daughters & Sons, Community, War, Safety & Danger, Plants

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Race & Racism, American Civil War, African American Literature, Grief & Death, US History, Love & Sexuality, Post-War Era, Military & War, World History

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The Taming of the Shrew

by William Shakespeare

Publication year 1593

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Gender Identity, Social Class

Tags Elizabethan Era, Comedy & Satire, Humor, Education, Education, Dramatic Literature, Romance, Classic Fiction

The Taming of the Shrew is one of William Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, probably first performed around 1593. While the play’s depiction of women is the subject of much debate among modern readers and scholars, its popularity endures, and the play continues to be reproduced in various mediums. Notable adaptations include the 1967 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and the 1999 romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You.This guide refers to the 2014... Read The Taming of the Shrew Summary

The Temple of My Familiar

by Alice Walker

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Gender Identity, Race, Marriage, Colonialism

Tags Race & Racism, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, African American Literature, Gender & Feminism, Classic Fiction

The Temple of My Familiar (1989) is a novel by Alice Walker. It follows the intersecting lives of multiple characters across countries and lifetimes, exploring the themes of The Feminine Experience, The Historical Trauma of Colonization, and Spirituality in the Diaspora.Alice Walker is an internationally acclaimed and celebrated writer, poet, and activist. Her novel The Color Purple won a National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983. Characters from this classic feature... Read The Temple of My Familiar Summary

The Tenant

by Freida McFadden

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Family, Self Discovery, War, Marriage

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

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The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

by Anne Brontë

Publication year 1848

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Marriage, Self Discovery, Social Class, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Victorian Period, Classic Fiction, Romance, British Literature, Gothic Literature, Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, Addiction & Substance Abuse, World History, Historical Fiction, Victorian Era

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is the second and final novel written by Anne Brontë (1820-1849), the youngest of the three celebrated Brontë sisters. The novel was published in 1848 under Anne’s pseudonym, Acton Bell. Unlike Anne’s first novel, Agnes Grey (1847), The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was an immediate sensation and stirred strong reactions to its subject matter, which touched on adultery, marital separation, alcohol use disorder, and domestic abuse. After her death, Anne’s... Read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Summary

The Train From Rhodesia

by Nadine Gordimer

Publication year 1952

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Shame & Pride, Marriage, Social Class, Economics, Justice, Power & Greed, Conflict

Tags Race & Racism, African Literature, Relationships

“The Train from Rhodesia” is a short story by Nadine Gordimer, who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991. The story originally appeared in The Soft Voice of the Serpent, her first collection of stories, published in 1953 and used as the basis for this study guide.The story takes place in a train station in an unnamed African village. The station is surrounded by beggars and by vendors selling carved wooden animals. A stationmaster... Read The Train From Rhodesia Summary

The Trojan War: A New History

by Barry Strauss

Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Marriage

Tags European History, Military & War, Classical Period, World History, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Recorded in Homer’s epic poems, which are widely considered seminal in the canon of western literature, the Trojan War continues to enjoy mythic status within contemporary culture over two millennia later. In the light of new archaeological evidence, Barry Strauss re-examines the most fabled war in history in his 2006 text The Trojan War: A New History. Strauss returns to the era when the war actually took place, some 500 years before Homer, and examines... Read The Trojan War: A New History Summary