The Good Earth is a historical fiction novel by Pearl S. Buck that was published in 1931 and is set in a Chinese village in Anhwei. The novel follows the life of Wang Lung, an impoverished farmer, and his family as they navigate the challenges of rural life in China in the 1920s. The novel …
Examples of Allegories
Life: A User’s Manual is a novel by Georges Perec that was originally published in French in 1978 under the title La Vie mode d’emploi. The novel presents a detailed portrait of a fictional ten-story apartment building in Paris and its inhabitants. The book has been praised for its intricate structure, playful storytelling, and its …
Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere is a novel that takes readers on a journey through a magical realm coexisting with the familiar streets of London. The story follows Richard Mayhew, an unassuming businessman, who stumbles upon a girl bleeding on the sidewalk. He stops to help her, and his life is forever changed as he is drawn …
“The Cellist of Sarajevo” is a novel written by Steven Galloway that tells the story of three people trying to survive in a city rife with the extreme fear of desperate times, and of the sorrowing cellist who plays undaunted in their midst. The novel is set during the 1990s Siege of Sarajevo, and it …
The Magician’s Nephew is a children’s fantasy novel written by C.S. Lewis, published in 1955. It is the sixth book in The Chronicles of Narnia series, but it serves as a prequel to the events in the first book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The book tells the story of two children, Digory …
Paolo Bacigalupi’s novel, The Water Knife, is a gripping and thought-provoking work of science fiction that explores the impact of climate change on the Southwestern United States. Set in the near future, the novel depicts a world where drought has devastated the region, leading to a fierce battle over the dwindling water supply of the …
“The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” is a novel written by American author Kim Edwards. Published in 2005, the book has since become a bestseller and has been translated into 38 languages. The story revolves around a man named Dr. David Henry who delivers his own twins on a winter night in 1964. His son is born …
Donna Tartt’s novel, The Secret History, is a gripping tale that follows the lives of a group of eccentric classics students at a small liberal arts college in Vermont. The novel was first published in 1992 and has since become a cult classic, captivating readers with its intricate plot and compelling characters. The Secret History …
Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic novel set in a world where the majority of the population has been wiped out by a deadly virus. The story follows a group of traveling actors and musicians who perform Shakespearean plays and classical music in the ruins of civilization. Mandel’s novel has been praised …
Toni Morrison’s debut novel, The Bluest Eye, is a powerful and poignant exploration of race, identity, and beauty standards in 1940s America. The story follows Pecola Breedlove, a young African American girl who longs for blue eyes, believing that they will make her beautiful and accepted by society. Set in Morrison’s hometown of Lorain, Ohio, …