“The Secret River” is a historical novel written by Kate Grenville that tells the story of William Thornhill, a poor waterman from London who is deported to New South Wales in 1806. The novel explores the moral choices that were made during the founding of Australia, and the impact that these choices had on the …
Examples of Allegories
“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 …
“The Chosen” by Chaim Potok is a novel that explores themes of friendship, religion, and identity. The story follows two Jewish boys, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders, as they navigate their lives in Brooklyn at the end of World War II. Reuven and Danny come from different Jewish sects, with Reuven being a traditional Orthodox …
The Book of Chameleons by José Eduardo Agualusa is a fascinating novel that explores the intricacies of memory and identity. The story follows Felix Ventura, an albino man living in Angola, who has the unique ability to create new pasts for people by selling them different memories. Through his trade, Felix becomes entangled in a …
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 Enchanted April” is a classic novel written by Elizabeth von Arnim that tells the story of four English women who embark on a life-changing vacation to escape their mundane lives in rainy England. This heartwarming story takes readers on a journey to the Italian Riviera, where the women immerse themselves in the beauty of …
The Tartar Steppe is a novel written by Italian author Dino Buzzati in 1940. The book tells the story of a young officer, Giovanni Drogo, and his life spent guarding the Bastiani Fortress, an isolated military outpost located on the Tartar Steppe. The novel is widely regarded as Buzzati’s major work and has contributed to …
“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 …
Robert Musil’s “The Confusions of Young Törless” is a novel that explores the moral and psychological development of a young student sent to a military boarding school in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The protagonist witnesses and participates in the bullying and humiliation of a fellow student, leading him to question the nature of power, morality, and …
The Slynx by Tatyana Tolstaya is a dystopian novel that explores themes of power, oppression, and the resilience of the human spirit. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the book offers a thought-provoking glimpse into a society grappling with the aftermath of a catastrophic event known as “the Blast.” With its unique blend of satire, dark …