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.

The Summer Wives

by Beatriz Williams

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Guilt, Love, Memory, Nostalgia, Revenge, Gender Identity, Race, Coming of Age, The Past, Family, Social Class

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance

The novel unfolds across three interwoven timelines on Winthrop Island, a fictional enclave in Long Island Sound where wealthy summer families, known as "the Families," coexist uneasily with a working-class, mostly Portuguese community of fishermen and laborers.In May 1969, Miranda Schuyler, now famous as the actress Miranda Thomas, returns to Winthrop Island after 18 years, hiding a bruised face behind dark sunglasses. At the general store, the elderly proprietress Mrs. Medeiro recognizes Miranda and drives... Read The Summer Wives Summary

The Sunbearer Trials

by Aiden Thomas

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Hope, Loneliness, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Animals, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Mythology

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The Surgeon

by Leslie Wolfe

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Grief, Memory, Revenge, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Death, The Past, Family, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Education, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Health

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The Tainted Cup

by Robert Jackson Bennett

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Memory, Revenge, Disability, Mental Health, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Plants, Place, Teamwork, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Fantasy

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The Tapestry of Fate

by Shannon Chakraborty

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Revenge, Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Action & Adventure

The Tapestry of Fate (2024) is a historical fantasy novel by Shannon Chakraborty. It is the second installment in the Amina al-Sirafi Adventures series, following the bestselling and award-nominated The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. Chakraborty is also the author of the critically acclaimed Daevabad Trilogy. The novel continues the story of Amina al-Sirafi, a formidable, middle-aged pirate captain tasked with impossible quests by magical beings. Her new task is to retrieve a dangerous, fate-altering spindle... Read The Tapestry of Fate 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 Terrible Two

by Mac Barnett, Jory John

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Conflict, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Perseverance, Revenge, Forgiveness, Teamwork, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Wins & Losses, Family, Appearance & Reality, Animals, Hate & Anger, Childhood & Youth, Education

Tags Action & Adventure, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education

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The Thief and the Dogs

by Naguib Mahfouz

Publication year 1961

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Social Class, Revenge

Tags Symbolic Narrative, Social Class, Existentialism, African Literature, Education, Education, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Thief and the Dogs is a 1961 surrealist, existentialist novel by Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz. Mahfouz won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature and The Thief and the Dogs is considered one of his most celebrated works. The novel has been adapted for Egyptian television, and is the first novel written in Arabic to use the stream-of-consciousness style. Published nearly ten years after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, the novel is also considered an... Read The Thief and the Dogs Summary

The Three Musketeers

by Alexandre Dumas

Publication year 1844

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Wins & Losses, Power & Greed, Loyalty & Betrayal, Teamwork, The Past, Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Revenge

Tags Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, French Literature, European History, Military & War, Love & Sexuality, World History

The Three Musketeers (1844), by French novelist and playwright Alexandre Dumas, is a novel that borrows tropes from the swashbuckling genre, historical fiction, and romance to recount the adventures of a group of king’s guard who face off against the machinations of nefarious political factions set on destabilizing the monarchy. It was first published through serialization in 1844 to great popularity. Though set in the mid-1600s, the novel connected with the philosophical underpinnings of the... Read The Three Musketeers Summary

The Tragedy of Mariam

by Elizabeth Cary

Publication year 1613

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Gender Identity, Love, Social Class

Tags Classic Fiction, Drama, Education, Education, World History, Dramatic Literature, Historical Fiction

The Tragedy of Mariam, Fair Queen of Jewry recounts actual historical events surrounding the execution of Mariam, the second wife of Herod the Great. Written by Elizabeth Cary, the Viscountess Falkland, this five-act play published in 1613 is unique in several ways—chiefly, in that it is the first English-language play authored and published by a woman. Multiple tragedies occur in the drama, which falls into the genre of a Senecan revenge tragedy. It’s also a... Read The Tragedy of Mariam Summary

The Trees

by Percival Everett

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Justice, Revenge, Community

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Southern Literature, Race & Racism, Black Lives Matter

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The Unknown

by Riley Sager

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Regret, Revenge, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Place, Teamwork, Art, Equality, Fame, Justice, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Horror & Suspense

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The Unworthy

by Agustina Bazterrica, Transl. Sarah Moses

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Death, Future, Self Discovery, Community, Good & Evil, Power & Greed

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, LGBTQ+

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The Visit

by Friedrich Dürrenmatt

Publication year 1956

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Revenge, Justice, Truth & Lies

Tags Tragedy, Comedy & Satire, German Literature

The Visit, by Swiss author and playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt, premiered in 1956 at the Schauspielhaus Zürich under the German title Der Besuch der alten Dame, or The Visit of the Old Lady. Dürrenmatt’s darkly comic satiric plays are credited with helping revitalize German theatre following World War II. His writing also reveals the influence of German playwright Bertolt Brecht, notably in Dürrenmatt’s use of parables: simple stories using human characters to illustrate a lesson or... Read The Visit Summary

The Warsaw Orphan

by Kelly Rimmer

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Memory, Revenge, Gender Identity, Race, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Nation, War, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags World War II, Military & War, Historical Fiction, European History

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The Way Up To Heaven

by Roald Dahl

Publication year 1954

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Fear, Revenge, Midlife, Self Discovery, Good & Evil

Tags Education, Education, Classic Fiction

“The Way Up to Heaven” by Roald Dahl was initially published in 1954 in an issue of The New Yorker magazine and later included in his 1960 short story compilation book Kiss Kiss. The story was also adapted for TV in 1957 and 1979. Dahl is well known for his children’s novels, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, and The Big Friendly Giant, many of which appeal with elements that are unusually... Read The Way Up To Heaven Summary

The White Devil

by John Webster

Publication year 1612

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Femininity, Social Class, Politics & Government, Justice, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Tragedy, Jacobean Era

First performed onstage in 1612, The White Devil is a revenge tragedy that is loosely based on the murder of Vittoria Accoramboni in Italy in 1585. The full title of the play is The White Divel; or, The Tragedy of Paulo Giordano Ursini, Duke of Bracciano. With The Life and Death of Vittoria Corombona the famous Venetian Curtizan). The play has been performed many times but has not been adapted for film. This guide refers... Read The White Devil Summary