“The Shadow of the Sun” by Ryszard Kapuściński is a captivating memoir that explores the author’s experiences as a journalist in Africa. Through vivid storytelling, Kapuściński provides a unique perspective on the continent, delving into its history, politics, and the impact of colonialism. The book offers a thought-provoking and insightful look at Africa’s past and …

“The Wings of the Dove” by Henry James is a novel that has captivated readers for over a century. It tells the story of Milly Theale, an American heiress who is stricken with a serious disease and the impact she has on those around her. The novel is a masterpiece of allegory, with the dove …

“The City of Joy” by Dominique Lapierre is a novel that has captured the hearts of readers all around the world. The book takes place in the slums of Calcutta, India, where over 200,000 people live per square mile. The story follows the lives of several characters, including a young Polish priest named Father Stephan …

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 …

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 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 …

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 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 …

The Famished Road is a novel by Nigerian author Ben Okri that won the Booker Prize in 1991. The book is an allegorical tale that follows the life of Azaro, a spirit child who is caught between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Okri draws on traditional African beliefs and …

Nadine Gordimer’s “The Lying Days” is a semi-autobiographical novel that tells the story of Helen Shaw, a white middle-class girl growing up in a small gold-mining town in South Africa. As she comes of age, Helen becomes increasingly aware of the African life around her, and her involvement with young black students leads her into …