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Author Chinua Achebe, widely recognized as the pioneer of African literature, once stated that literature is not a luxury for his people. Instead, it is a crucial matter of life and death as they strive to shape a new identity.

Regardless of its status as a luxury, many writers have delved into the harsh outcomes of past and current colonialism. While Edward Said’s influential work “Orientalism” and Frantz Fanon’s “The Wretched of the Earth” provide insightful nonfiction perspectives, the following novels offer compelling explorations of themes such as history, identity, and displacement.

In the Castle of My Skin by George Lamming

George Lamming, a writer from Barbados, gained recognition for his debut novel in 1953. The book, which spans 295 pages, delves into the author’s childhood and adolescence, particularly his experiences growing up in Barbados during the 1930s under colonial rule. In 1957, it was honored with the Somerset Maugham award for its depiction of the significant labor struggles during that time period.

In 2002, Lamming stated in the Guardian that my generation’s experience with colonialism was primarily nonviolent, but it instilled a sense of fear and intimidation.

Season of Migration to The North by Tayeb Salih

Tayeb Salih’s acclaimed literary work, published in 1966, follows the journey of a Sudanese student as he returns to his rural roots after living in Europe for many years. Along the way, he meets Mustafa, who shares his experiences in London after World War I.

In 2002, the book was selected as one of the top 100 pieces of fiction and praised by Edward Saïd as one of the best modern Arabic novels. It has since been translated into over 30 languages.

I unfortunately cannot reword this as it is the title of a book written by Isabella Hammad.

In her first book released in 2019, writer Hammad, who is from Britain and Palestine, shares the enthralling story of Midhat – based on her own grandfather – known as “the Parisian” due to his Western customs. The novel takes place in Nablus, Istanbul, Cairo, Montpellier, and ultimately Paris, delving into the end of the Ottoman empire, the British rule in Palestine, and the Arab movement for self-rule.

Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Páramo

Originally released in 1955, this condensed translated book is frequently praised as a classic masterpiece in literature. Jorge Luis Borges lauded it as one of the finest works in Hispanic literature, while Susan Sontag hailed it as one of the most impactful books of the 20th century. Gabriel García Márquez also compared its pages to those of Sophocles in terms of longevity.

The main character of the novel travels to the imaginary ghost town of Comala to fulfill his dying mother’s request and find his father. However, the line between the living and the dead is uncertain as the story jumps between past and present.

Kiran Desai’s novel, The Inheritance of Loss.

Located in the lower regions of the Himalayas, the book – based on the author’s personal family history – depicts a 1980s uprising of the Nepalese community in the town of Kalimpong. The story centers around a romantic relationship between 17-year-old Sai and a mathematics instructor.

During a conversation, two Indian women who admire British culture talk about VS Naipaul’s novel Bend in the River. They refer to the author, who is known for his controversial exploration of exile and colonialism, as “strange” and “outdated”. The novel, published when Desai was 35 years old, earned her the title of youngest woman to win the Booker prize in 2006.

Source: theguardian.com