Topic: History and politics
List of entries
A novel navigating peer-pressure, friendship, love, migration and casual racism. Chevalier retells the story of Shakespeare’s play Othello but set in Washington, D.C. in the 1970s. 11 year old protagonist Osei, the son of a diplomat, starts his first day at a new school, the fourth school in six years. Luckily, he finds a potential […]
A modern tragedy negotiating reality and illusion within the pursuit of the American Dream. Willy Loman is a travelling salesman who lives with his wife, Linda, in New York. Besides being constantly stressed out by his job, driving around and earning barely enough money to make a living, he is also disappointed by his son […]
A fantasy story in rhymes that encourages bravery, the willingness to help others, and the necessity to follow your passions and dreams. “Meet the Flying Doctors – a dragon, knight and girl. Their names are Gadabout the Great, and Zog, and Princess Pearl […]”, who embark on adventures as a team.
Featuring accessible language and detailed illustrations, this collection comprises comic strip versions of the following seven plays: Julius Ceasar, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale, Hamlet, The Tempest.
Featuring accessible language and detailed illustrations, this collection comprises comic strip versions of the following seven plays: The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra, As You Like It, Twelth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear, Richard III.
A story in rhymes about crime, ministry and the clever, book-loving detective dog Nel. When the school’s library simply vanishes overnight, it is up to Nell to sniff out the culprit.
A Gothic novel about advances in science and moral responsibilities they bring about. Victor Frankenstein is a gifted young scientist living and studying in Switzerland. Through the recently discovered ‘wonder of electricity’ he is able to give life to his own creation – a monstrous creature. However, Victor does not take responsibility for the monster […]
A dystopian coming-of-age novel about trust, education and children coming to terms with their special place in the world. Protagonist Kathy tells the story of her childhood attending a private school in England. There, living healthily is the most important rule. She and her friends already feel that they are special in some way but […]
This classic tale is based on a true story featuring the loyal and faithful dog Bobby: Over a hundred years ago in Edinburgh, the little Bobby would return for fourteen years, day by day, to his master’s graveside. His story is retold from the perspective of Tom and Becky, two children who are on a […]
A collection of Wilde’s tales of true beauty, the celebration of loyalty, selfless love, wit and aestheticism published in The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888) and A House of Pomegranates (1891). In “The Selfish Giant”, a giant chases children playing in his garden off and builds a high wall to keep them out. From […]
A comedy of manners on the constraints of morality, the importance of lineage, Victorian values and hypocrisies. Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff are two wealthy gentlemen who invent fictional characters as an excuse to leave their respective home – a strategy known as ‘Bunburying’. Jack intends to marry Algernon’s cousin Gwendolen Fairfax. To see her […]
A coming-of-age novel about emotional distance and proximity, friendship and family, responsibility and peer-pressure. 12-year old Marcus lives alone with his mother, who suffers from depression. Will is a 36-year old bachelor, living off his father’s fortune and rejecting any responsibilities. When Will attends a single parents support group, simply in order to pick up […]
A dystopian novel on social hierarchies, the progress of science and technology and psychological manipulation. In the year 2540, society has grown into a caste system that seeks to attain absolute perfection: People are no longer born, but genetically modified and conditioned to behave as perfectly functioning members of society. For most, happiness is controlled […]
An allegorical novel on civilization and savagery, the power of religion, identity, and youth. A group of young boys survive a plane crash and find themselves on an uninhabited island. They quickly establish a governmental structure, rules, and order and elect one boy as chief. However, not long after conflicts erupt, their group splits in […]
Orwell’s classic fable-like allegory to Stalinism. Feeling suppressed and exploited by the farmer, a group of farm animals plot a revolution. But soon after the revolutionary takeover of the farmyard, their leaders become corrupted by power and turn into the ones they once chased away.
A social problem novel on changes and challenges in industrialised England – following ‘the progress of a parish boy’ from London’s impoverished underworld to a fortunate life. Growing up in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver asked for more food and is sold to an undertaker to become his apprentice. Oliver runs away and travels to […]
In this sonnet, the speaker tells the story of a relationship between a man and a woman problematising traditional gender roles. Due to seemingly insignificant household problems, they both feel stressed in their relationship. This causes him to get drunk and complain about his relationship and her to write bad protest poems and “torment” her […]
A song by Saul Williams critically investigating the US American military and inhuman past, present and future. In the style of a preacher, the speaker reflects on the USA’s history and its current state. He complains about a lack of ancient spirituality and the worship of a male god that causes violence and destruction.