Revenge

Sir Walter Scott called revenge "the sweetest morsel to the mouth that was ever cooked in hell." We are often counseled to rise above slights, grievances, and injuries, but still, the temptation and promise of revenge remain. This thematic collection gathers texts that investigate what prompts us to hunger for revenge and where this hunger leads us.

This Is Why We Lied

by Karin Slaughter

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Guilt, Love, Regret, Revenge, Death, The Past, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read This Is Why We Lied Summary

This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen

by Tadeusz Borowski

Publication year 1946

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Good & Evil

The short stories in Tadeusz Borowski’s collection, This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, were selected from two earlier volumes of stories, Farewell to Maria and The World of Stone, both published in Poland in 1948. The collection was translated into English in 1967 and published in the United States. Borowski’s stories are based on his experiences as a concentration camp inmate at Auschwitz-Birkenau during the Holocaust. His fiancée, Maria Rundo, was arrested as... Read This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen Summary

Those Empty Eyes

by Charlie Donlea

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Guilt, Memory, Revenge, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Trauma & Abuse

... Read Those Empty Eyes Summary

Three Bags Full

by Leonie Swann

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Loneliness, Regret, Revenge, Animals, Teamwork, Justice

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction

Leonie Swann’s debut novel, Three Bags Full (2005), is a comedic mystery that follows an unusual team of detectives: a flock of sheep in the small Irish village of Glennkill. When their beloved shepherd, George Glenn, is found impaled by a spade in their pasture, the sheep feel obligated to find his killer. Led by the highly intelligent Miss Maple, the flock uses their unique ovine senses and logic to investigate the human suspects in... Read Three Bags Full Summary

Thyestes

by Seneca

Publication year 65

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Siblings, Fate, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Order & Chaos

Tags Tragedy, Ancient Rome, Classical Period, Trauma & Abuse

... Read Thyestes Summary

Titus Andronicus

by William Shakespeare

Publication year 1594

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed

Tags Classic Fiction, Tragedy, Historical Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, British Literature, Education, Education, Dramatic Literature

Titus Andronicus is a tragedy generally thought to have been written between 1588 and 1593 and is usually credited to William Shakespeare. The play is set in an undefined time in imperial Rome. Roman General Titus Andronicus returns victorious from a long war. Tamora, Queen of the Goths, is his prisoner, along with her family and retinue. He authorizes the execution of one of her sons by his sons. This begins a vicious cycle of... Read Titus Andronicus Summary

To Kill a Kingdom

by Alexandra Christo

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Revenge, Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Beauty, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies, Family, Mothers, Community

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Action & Adventure, Relationships, Love & Sexuality, Mythology

... Read To Kill a Kingdom Summary

Tom's Crossing

by Mark Z. Danielewski

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hope, Love, Revenge, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Coming of Age, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Nature Versus Nurture, Friendship, Teamwork, Colonialism, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tom’s Crossing: A Western (2025) is a novel by Mark Z. Danielewski. Set in 1982 in a fictionalized version of Provo, Utah, where the author grew up, the story follows the friendship between two teenage boys, Tom Gatestone and Kalin March. When Tom dies, Kalin honors his deathbed promise to Tom to rescue two horses from a slaughter paddock and guide them to a remote mountain sanctuary known as “the Crossing.” This act ignites a... Read Tom's Crossing Summary

Train to Pakistan

by Khushwant Singh

Publication year 1956

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge

Tags Historical Fiction, Indian Literature, Asian Literature, Asian Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

Train to Pakistan is a 1956 historical novel by Indian novelist Khushwant Singh. Set during the 1947 partition of India that created the nations of Pakistan and India, it focuses on the way partition impacted the people on the ground. Focusing on the lives of ordinary citizens as they were torn from their homes, Train to Pakistan brings a human dimension to one of the bloodiest periods in the history of the two countries. Before the... Read Train to Pakistan Summary

True Grit

by Charles Portis

Publication year 1968

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Regret, Masculinity, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Teamwork, Nation, War, Justice, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Western, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction

True Grit is a 1968 western novel by Charles Portis that tells the story of Mattie Ross, a determined and headstrong 14-year-old girl from Arkansas who seeks vengeance for her father’s murder. With the unlikely help of Rooster Cogburn, a tough US Marshal, and LaBoeuf, a Texas Ranger, Mattie sets out to capture the killer, Tom Chaney. True Grit was an instant bestseller, adapted as a film in 1969 and in 2010. This guide uses the... Read True Grit Summary

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

by Jules Verne

Publication year 1870

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Place, Revenge, Science & Technology, Environment, Power & Greed

Tags Science Fiction, Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure, French Literature, Animals, Technology, Science & Nature, Fantasy

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is a science fiction adventure novel by French author Jules Verne. It was originally published in serialized form in 1869 under the title Vingt mille lieues sous les mers, and later as a book in 1870. In 1873, the first English-language translation was released. The book was highly acclaimed at the time of its publication and was one of several successful novels by Verne. Others include Journey to the... Read Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Summary

Twisted Love

by Ana Huang

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Revenge

Tags Romance, Love & Sexuality, Trauma & Abuse, Asian History, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Twisted Love Summary

Unfriended

by Rachel Vail

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Conflict, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Disability, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Technology

Rachel Vail is the author of the middle grade novel Unfriended (2014). Vail has published several books for young readers and children, including Wonder (1991) and The Friendship Ring series (2014). As with Unfriended, her stories focus on young people confronting the fraught dynamics of friendships and school. In Unfriended, 13-year-old Truly leaves her best friend for the popular crowd and is beset by conflicts online and in the physical world. The story of Truly... Read Unfriended Summary

Valentine

by Elizabeth Wetmore

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Community, Safety & Danger, Coming of Age, Forgiveness, Revenge, Love, Mothers, Family, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Fear, Justice, Equality, Good & Evil, Marriage, Truth & Lies, Perseverance, Conflict, Loneliness, Hope, Gratitude

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Relationships, Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

... Read Valentine Summary