The Star Rover, also known as The Jacket, is a novel by Jack London that was published in 1915. This science fiction novel explores themes of mysticism and reincarnation, and follows the story of a man named Darrell Standing who is serving a life sentence in San Quentin for murder. Throughout the novel, Standing is …
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Natalia Ginzburg’s “The Little Virtues” is a collection of essays that explores the complexities of human relationships and the practicalities of everyday life. Through her writing, Ginzburg reflects on big virtues, little virtues, and how we often confuse one for the other when educating our children. She argues that the true education we must strive …
Lord of Light is a science fiction novel written by Roger Zelazny, published in 1967. The novel is set on a distant planet where colonists from Earth have established a society based on Hindu mythology. The story follows the character Sam, who takes on various identities, including that of a god, in his rebellion against …
Rhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco is a play that serves as a powerful political allegory. The play was first performed in 1959 and is considered a hallmark of the Theatre of the Absurd. The genre emphasized the illogical or irrational aspects of life, often through bizarre or fantastical scenarios. Eugène Ionesco emerged as a leading figure …
The Butterfly Revolution by William Butler is a novel that was first published in 1961. The book is an allegory that uses the story of a group of butterflies to explore themes of power, leadership, and revolution. The novel follows the story of Winston Weynes, who is sent to Camp High Pines as a gift …
The Man Without Qualities is an unfinished modernist novel in three volumes by the Austrian writer Robert Musil. The novel is set in the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy’s last days, and the plot often veers into allegorical digressions on a wide range of existential themes concerning human nature and society. The story is centered …
Simone Schwarz-Bart’s “The Bridge of Beyond” is a classic novel that has been celebrated for its allegorical style. The novel tells the story of the women of Guadeloupe, who are caught between a colonial past and an uncertain future. Schwarz-Bart’s prose captures the rhythm of language in Guadeloupe and the longevity of folk traditions, spirits, …
“The Horse’s Mouth” is a novel by Joyce Cary that was published in 1944. The book is part of Cary’s First Trilogy, which also includes “Herself Surprised” and “To Be a Pilgrim.” The novel follows the story of Gulley Jimson, an artist who is willing to exploit his friends and acquaintances to earn money. The …
Marguerite Duras’s The Lover is a novel that explores the themes of colonialism, femininity, and poverty through the experiences of an unnamed narrator. The semi-autobiographical novel recounts a young girl’s affair with a wealthy, older Chinese man in French-colonized Vietnam. The novel is a modernist story of sexual coming of age in French colonial Vietnam. …
The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna is a novel that explores the aftermath of Sierra Leone’s civil war. The book is an allegory for the struggles of individuals and communities to heal and rebuild after experiencing trauma and violence. The author uses a complex web of characters and relationships to illustrate the challenges of …