The Past

In George Orwell's 1984 a character says, "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." The past may be behind us, but its events—and how we remember them—have a profound effect on the present. In this collection explore texts that examine the complications and complexities of the past.

The Kitchen Boy

by Robert Alexander

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Guilt, Loyalty & Betrayal, The Past, Forgiveness, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Politics & Government, Russian Literature, World History, European History

The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar (2003) is a historical fiction novel detailing the fate of the Romanovs by Robert Alexander (a pen name for Robert Zimmerman). Although Alexander is American, he spent decades in Russia. He attended Leningrad State University and, afterward, ran various businesses in St. Petersburg. As such, he has personal experience with Russian culture. He wrote several historical fiction novels that take place during the Russian Revolution—including Rasputin’s... Read The Kitchen Boy Summary

The Last Painting of Sara De Vos

by Dominic Smith

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes The Past, Art

Tags Historical Fiction, Arts & Culture, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History

In Part 1, thieves steal At the Edge of a Wood—assumed to be the only surviving work of 17th-century painter Sara de Vos—from the apartment of Martijn “Marty” de Groot during a fundraiser for orphans. Marty does not discover the theft until months later because the thieves replace the original painting with a forgery created by Eleanor “Ellie” Shipley, an Australian doctoral student studying art history at Columbia University. Smith tells the story of how... Read The Last Painting of Sara De Vos Summary

The Leopard

by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

Publication year 1958

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Nostalgia, Death, The Past, Space, Social Class, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Historical Fiction, Italian Literature, Classic Fiction

The Leopard, a historical novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, originally published in Italian in 1958, chronicles the decline of the Sicilian nobility during the 19th century, the period marking the unification of Italy. The novel follows the life of Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, as he navigates through political upheaval and the fading glory of his class amidst the rise of a new social order. The Leopard was adapted into a film in... Read The Leopard Summary

The Lies of Locke Lamora

by Scott Lynch

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hate & Anger, Guilt, Memory, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Religion & Spirituality, Death, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Coming of Age, Language, Family, Teamwork, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, Nation

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Crime Fiction

The Lies of Locke Lamora, written by Scott Lynch and published in 2006, is the first entry in the Gentleman Bastards series. These novels mix caper stories and fantasy stories and include adventure, violence, dark humor, and intimate friendships. The Lies of Locke Lamora is an international best seller and was nominated for multiple awards. The other entries in the series are Red Seas Under Red Skies, The Republic of Thieves, and The Thorn of... Read The Lies of Locke Lamora Summary

The Lion and the Jewel

by Wole Soyinka

Publication year 1962

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes The Past

Tags African Literature, Education, Education, African American Literature, Dramatic Literature, Classic Fiction

“The Lion and the Jewel” is a three-act play written by Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka, who is known for his plays, including "Death and the King's Horseman" and "The Swamp Dwellers." The play fuses modern and traditional elements of storytelling, including Yoruban song and dance, to convey a message both comical and serious. The play’s characters are often touted as over-the-top in their behavior, lending a comical aspect to the dialogue and the characters’ individual... Read The Lion and the Jewel Summary

The Little Friend

by Donna Tartt

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Coming of Age, Truth & Lies, The Past, Nostalgia

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, American Literature, Southern Gothic

The Little Friend (2002) is a Southern Gothic novel by Donna Tartt. Twelve-year-old protagonist Harriet Dufresnes, who lives in the small town of Alexandria, Mississippi, becomes obsessed with her brother Robin’s unsolved murder and her family’s mythical lost fortune and happiness. This coming-of-age novel traces Harriet’s attempts to discover and murder Robin’s killer, all while grappling with loss, revisionist history, secrets, and social tensions based on race, class, and gender.Donna Tartt became a success when... Read The Little Friend Summary

The Lost City of Z

by David Grann

Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Colonialism, The Past, Truth & Lies, Appearance & Reality, Place

Tags World History, Action & Adventure, Travel Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, History of the Americas, Race & Racism, World War I, Anthropology, Anthropology, Science & Nature, Biography

David Grann’s The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon (2009) tells the story of Percy Harrison Fawcett’s ill-fated expedition into the Brazilian jungle. After nearly two decades spent exploring the region and gathering evidence, Fawcett concluded that a sophisticated ancient civilization, a city he called Z, lay hidden deep in the Amazonian wilderness. In 1925, while searching for Z, Fawcett disappeared along with his son Jack and Jack’s friend... Read The Lost City of Z Summary

The Lost Steps

by Alejo Carpentier

Publication year 1953

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Gender Identity, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Race, The Past, Marriage, Colonialism, Art, Literature, Music, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Magical Realism, Symbolic Narrative, Latin American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

The Lost Steps, first published in 1953 by Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier, is a parody of the lost world novels that were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) and Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World (1912). The novel follows an unnamed New York City composer on a quest for Indigenous musical instruments in South America. Carpentier, known for his roles as a... Read The Lost Steps Summary