Milan Kundera’s “The Book of Laughter and Forgetting” is a novel that explores the theme of forgetting as it occurs in history, politics, and life in general. The novel is composed of seven separate narratives that are united by some common themes. The stories contain elements found in the genre of magic realism, and they …
Examples of Allegories
“The Red and the Black” is a novel written by Stendhal, first published in 1830. The novel is set in France and tells the story of a young man named Julien Sorel, who is determined to rise above his humble origins and make a name for himself in Parisian society. The novel is widely regarded …
“The Immoralist” by André Gide is a classic novel that was first published in 1902. It tells the story of Michel, a man who has spent his early adulthood as a scholar of ancient Greek and Roman cultures. The novel is a psychological exploration of Michel’s repressed desires and the deep rift that exists between …
“The Wasp Factory” by Iain Banks is a disturbing and thought-provoking novel that explores the dark and twisted mind of its protagonist, Frank Cauldhame. The novel was first published in 1984 and quickly became a cult classic for fans of fiction, horror, and thriller genres. The story is set in a remote Scottish village and …
“The Buried Giant” is a novel written by Kazuo Ishiguro, published in March 2015. It is a fantasy novel set in a fictional post-Arthurian England where no one can retain long-term memories. The novel follows the journey of an elderly couple, Axl and Beatrice, who decide to travel to a neighboring village to find their …
“Riddley Walker” is a science fiction novel by Russell Hoban. The book has won numerous awards, including the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1981. The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic society where the characters speak a phonetic, idiosyncratic version of English. The story follows the protagonist, Riddley Walker, as he sets out to …
“The Garden of Evening Mists” is a novel by Tan Twan Eng that explores complex themes of memory, trauma, and healing. Set in post-World War II Malaysia, the story follows protagonist Teoh Yun Ling, a former prisoner of war who seeks to create a garden in memory of her sister who died during their internment. …
“The Children of Men” is a dystopian novel by P.D. James published in 1992. Set in England in 2021, the book centers on the results of mass infertility. James describes a United Kingdom that is steadily depopulating and focuses on a small group of resisters who do not share the disillusionment of the masses. The …
“The Overstory” by Richard Powers is a novel that explores the relationship between humans and nature. Through a series of interconnected stories, Powers weaves a tale of how the lives of nine different characters are impacted by trees and the natural world. The book has been praised for its beautiful prose and its ability to …
“The Death of Artemio Cruz” is a novel written by Carlos Fuentes that tells the story of Artemio Cruz, a wealthy and powerful Mexican businessman. The novel is divided into three parts, each of which focuses on a different period in Cruz’s life. The first part takes place during the Mexican Revolution, when Cruz is …