Nation & Nationalism

These texts explore the concept of the nation, an idea of community that inspires patriotism and nostalgia. What makes a nation? And why are people willing to die—or to kill—to protect it? These are just a couple of the questions examined in the texts in this collection.

Memoirs of Hadrian

by Marguerite Yourcenar

Publication year 1951

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Loneliness, Memory, Nostalgia, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Aging, Death, The Past, Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government, Art, Beauty, Fate, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags French Literature, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

The Memoirs of Hadrian is a fictional autobiography first published in French by Marguerite Yourcenar in 1951. Composed as the reflections of the real Roman Emperor Hadrian, who ruled in 117-138 CE, the book was well-received by critics and readers and is considered Yourcenar’s best work as well as one of the best 20th century French novels. The English version of the Memoirs was translated by Grace Frick, in collaboration with the author, and published... Read Memoirs of Hadrian Summary

Meno

by Plato

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Education, Nation, Truth & Lies

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

One of the founding documents of Western philosophy, Plato’s Meno recounts a dialog on the nature of virtue between Socrates and his pupil Meno, a rising star among the leaders of ancient Greece. They discuss how virtue can be recognized, where it comes from, and whether it can be taught.Meno takes place in 402 BCE in Athens; Plato, Socrates’s most famous student, in 385 BCE wrote down his recollection of the conversation. It offers a... Read Meno Summary

Metal Slinger

by Rachel Schneider

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Family, Social Class, Nation, Politics & Government, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, New Adult, Action & Adventure

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Miracle At Philadelphia

by Catherine Drinker Bowen

Publication year 1966

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Nation, Politics & Government

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

Miracle at Philadelphia is a 1969 work of history by Catherine Drinker Bowen. It is a detailed account of the Constitutional Convention that took place from May to September 1787 in Philadelphia, resulting in the original drafting of the United States Constitution. It remains one of the most highly regarded popular accounts of the Convention, especially for its rich portraits of the delegates that provides a vivid sense of political debates and social life.This study... Read Miracle At Philadelphia Summary

Moloka'i

by Alan Brennert

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Nation, Disability

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Health, Grief & Death, World History, Arts & Culture

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Moon Over Manifest

by Clare Vanderpool

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Regret, Nostalgia, Memory, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, The Past, Death, Appearance & Reality, Place, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Family, Friendship, Community, Social Class, Economics, Immigration, Education, War, Politics & Government, Nation, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, World History

Moon Over Manifest is a 2010 novel by author Claire Vanderpool. It relates the story of 12-year-old Abilene Tucker, a drifting girl in search of her father, a home, and a sense of belonging. When the novel starts, her father, Gideon Tucker, has just sent Abilene to the Kansas town of Manifest, claiming that he can’t take her to Iowa, where he is allegedly taking a railroad job. It is 1936, and the Great Depression... Read Moon Over Manifest Summary

Mornings in Jenin

by Susan Abulhawa

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Family, War, Religion & Spirituality, Nation, Community, Colonialism, Grief

Tags Historical Fiction, Middle Eastern Literature, Military & War, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Politics & Government

Mornings in Jenin is a historical novel that spans the years between 1941 and 2003 and is focused on the Israeli invasion and occupation of Palestine. The author, Susan Abulhawa, is the child of Palestinian refugees and was brought up in several countries, including the United States. She writes the novel from the points of view of several members of a Palestinian family who lose their land, home, and loved ones. The novel relates the... Read Mornings in Jenin Summary

Moses, Man of the Mountain

by Zora Neale Hurston

Publication year 1939

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hope, Place, Family, Social Class, Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Education, Education, African American Literature, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Moses, Man of the Mountain is an allegorical novel by African-American author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. The novel reimagines the life of Moses and the biblical narrative of the Exodus from Egypt with several important changes, including the use of African American dialect, slang, and folklore. Throughout the novel, Hurston draws allegorical parallels between the enslavement of the Hebrew people in Egypt and the enslavement of people of African descent in the United States... Read Moses, Man of the Mountain Summary

Murderland

by Caroline Fraser

Publication year 2025

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Memory, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Environment, Place, Family, Social Class, Community, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags True Crime, Biography

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Naked Statistics

by Charles Wheelan

Publication year 2012

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Appearance & Reality, Social Class, Community, Economics, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Business/Economics, Technology, Science, Education

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Nana

by Émile Zola, Transl. Gerhard Krüger

Publication year 1880

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Social Class, Nation, Fame, Beauty, Power & Greed, Femininity, Masculinity

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Love & Sexuality, Realism, Realistic Fiction, Naturalism, Social Class, European History, French Literature

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Necessary Trouble

by Drew Gilpin Faust

Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Coming of Age, Femininity, Gender Identity, Race, Social Class, Education, Nation

Tags US History, Politics & Government, Gender & Feminism, Post-War Era, Southern Literature, Women`s Studies, World History, Biography

... Read Necessary Trouble Summary