The Golden Apples is a collection of interconnected short stories by Eudora Welty, published in 1949. The book is set in Morgana, Mississippi, and revolves around several middle-class families. The characters in the book are real, and the stories are not merely allegories. The Golden Apples is a literary masterpiece that explores the complexities of …

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s “The River Between” is a novel that explores the theme of cultural conflict between the Gikuyu people of Kenya. The story takes place in two villages, Makuyu and Kameno, that are separated by the Honia River. Although the villages depend on the same river for water and agriculture, they are divided by …

“The Ice Palace” is a novel by Tarjei Vesaas that tells the story of two young girls, Siss and Unn, and the profound impact that their brief encounter has on each other’s lives. The novel takes place in a small Norwegian village where the winter landscape is as cold and unforgiving as the emotions that …

Earl Lovelace’s novel “The Dragon Can’t Dance” is a powerful allegory that explores themes of community, tradition, and resistance. Set in the postcolonial Trinidad, the novel follows the life of Aldrick Prospect, a man who spends the entire year recreating his dragon costume for Carnival. Through Aldrick’s interactions with other people who live in his …

The Moon and Sixpence is a novel written by W. Somerset Maugham that was first published in 1919. The book is an allegory that tells the story of Charles Strickland, a middle-aged English stockbroker who abandons his family and career to pursue his passion for painting. Strickland’s journey takes him to Paris, where he meets …

“The Harp of Burma” is a poignant novel by Michio Takeyama that tells the story of a group of Japanese soldiers who are stranded in Burma after the end of World War II. The soldiers, who are part of the “singing company,” are known for their love of music and their ability to keep their …

The Path to the Nest of Spiders is a novel by Italian writer Italo Calvino. The book was published in 1947 and tells the story of Pin, a cobbler’s apprentice, who lives in a town on the Ligurian coast during World War II. Pin lives with his sister, who is a prostitute, and often spends …

“The Story of the Stone” by Cao Xueqin is a classic Chinese novel that has been widely read and studied for centuries. Also known as “Dream of the Red Chamber,” the book is considered one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It is known for its intricate plot, vivid characters, and exploration …

The Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz is a collection of interwoven short stories set in a fictional Galician town in what is now Ukraine. The book is a masterpiece of modernist literature, offering a unique blend of reality and fantasy. Schulz’s vivid and poetic writing style creates a surreal world that is both enchanting …

“The Waves” by Virginia Woolf is a novel that is often considered one of the most challenging works of modernist literature. The novel follows the lives of six friends from childhood to old age, exploring their inner lives and the complexities of their relationships. At its core, “The Waves” is an allegory that uses the …