Power

This curated selection of titles examines the concept of power and its role in shaping society. The texts in the Power Collection draw upon a wide range of literary traditions and genres to explore concepts related to power and its pursuit, such as equality and injustice, colonialism, authority, and conflict.

The Devil's Star

by Jo Nesbø

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Revenge, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Scandinavian Literature

Jo Nesbø’s crime novel The Devil’s Star, first published in Norwegian as Marekors in 2003, is the fifth installment in the internationally bestselling Detective Harry Hole series. It was the first novel in the series to be translated into English. The novel finds Detective Harry Hole at his lowest point, battling alcoholism and facing dismissal from the Oslo police force. During an oppressive summer heatwave, Harry hunts a serial killer who leaves a signature five-pointed... Read The Devil's Star Summary

The Devil Wears Prada

by Lauren Weisberger

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Appearance & Reality

Tags Humor, Satirical Literature, American Literature, Arts & Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

The Devil Wears Prada, published in 2004, is the debut novel of author Lauren Weisberger. It tells the tale of a hapless assistant working for a tyrannical boss in the fashion industry.The story takes place largely in present-day New York City, mostly in the offices of a high-fashion magazine called Runway. The central character, Andrea Sachs (who uses the nickname Andy), narrates the story from the first-person perspective, and the events she describes transpire over... Read The Devil Wears Prada Summary

The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Publication year 1922

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Social Class, Economics, Equality, Power & Greed

Tags American Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

The Diamond as Big as the Ritz is a satirical novella by F. Scott Fitzgerald, first published in 1922 as part of his collection Tales of the Jazz Age. Fitzgerald—one of the central literary voices of the American modernist era and a chronicler of wealth, illusion, and moral dislocation—draws on his cultural insight into the excesses of the early 20th century to critique American capitalism and privilege. Blending elements of fantasy, adventure, and social satire... Read The Diamond as Big as the Ritz Summary

The Doorman

by Chris Pavone

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Nostalgia, Revenge, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Race, Sexual Identity, Aging, Childhood & Youth, Midlife, Death, The Past, Place, Family, Marriage, Mothers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Economics, Nation, Politics & Government, Art, Beauty, Equality, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense

... Read The Doorman Summary

The Door of No Return

by Kwame Alexander

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Place, Family, Siblings, Grandparents, Friendship, Mothers, Equality, Power & Greed, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Good & Evil, Literature, Safety & Danger, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses, Language, Masculinity, Race, Love, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, Colonialism, Community, Death, Nation, Education, Self Discovery, Fathers

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Free Verse, Coming of Age, Race & Racism, History: African , African American Literature, World History

... Read The Door of No Return Summary

The Drawing of the Three

by Stephen King

Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Love, Mental Health, Death, Friendship, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Western, Action & Adventure

... Read The Drawing of the Three Summary

The Dream Hotel

by Laila Lalami

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Memory, Nostalgia, Regret, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Race, Future, Appearance & Reality, Marriage, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Immigration, Politics & Government, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction

... Read The Dream Hotel Summary

The Drowning Woman

by Robyn Harding

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Friendship, Marriage, Mothers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

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

... Read The Drowning Woman Summary

The Duchess and the Jeweller

by Virginia Woolf

Publication year 1938

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed

Tags Social Class, British Literature, Classic Fiction

Set in early 20th-century London, “The Duchess and the Jeweller” (1938) is a short story by Virginia Woolf that explores themes such as Materialism and Greed, Authenticity Versus Deceit, and Social Climbing and Class. The story focuses on a fragment of jeweller Oliver Bacon’s day and describes an important meeting between him and the Duchess of Lambourne. Though the plot is simple—a jeweller meets a client at his shop to potentially buy some gems—the focus... Read The Duchess and the Jeweller Summary

The Duchess of Malfi

by John Webster

Publication year 1614

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Power & Greed, Marriage, Justice, Social Class, Femininity

Tags Tragedy, Jacobean Era, Social Class, Education, Education, World History, Dramatic Literature, Classic Fiction

The Duchess of Malfi, originally published as The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy, is a Jacobean revenge tragedy written by John Webster. Webster also wrote the revenge tragedy The White Devil and frequently collaborated with other playwrights working for the King’s Men in London. It was written in 1613 and performed to a private audience at Blackfriars Theatre a year later. That same year it was also performed to a general audience at the... Read The Duchess of Malfi Summary