“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 …
Types of Allegories
“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 …
Giorgio Bassani’s “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” is a historical novel that chronicles the relationships between the narrator and the children of the Finzi-Contini family from the rise of Benito Mussolini until the start of World War II. The novel is set in Ferrara, Italy, and follows the lives of the Finzi-Continis, an aristocratic Jewish …
Amitav Ghosh’s “The Glass Palace” is a historical novel that delves into themes of colonialism, war, and the search for identity. The novel spans generations and continents, weaving together the lives of diverse characters against the backdrop of historical events. Set in Burma, India, and Malaysia, the story follows the intertwining fates of individuals affected …
Margaret Cavendish’s “The Blazing World” is a unique piece of literature that combines elements of science fiction, allegory, and feminism. The novel tells the story of a young Lady who is kidnapped and taken to a parallel world known as the Blazing World. There, she becomes the Empress and is able to explore a society …
A Clockwork Orange, a dystopian novel by Anthony Burgess, was published in 1962. The novel is set in a near-future society that has a youth subculture of extreme violence. The teenage protagonist, Alex, narrates his violent exploits and his experiences with state authorities intent on reforming him. The novel explores themes of violence, free will, …
Never Let Me Go is a science fiction novel written by Kazuo Ishiguro. The book tells the story of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, who grow up in an elite boarding school called Hailsham. The novel is set in an alternate England where human cloning is used to prolong the lives of ordinary citizens through state-sanctioned …