Best Colonialism

The Battle of Algiers is a visceral, documentary-style recreation of the Algerian struggle for independence from French colonial rule. Its use of non-professional actors and handheld camera work gives...

Tsitsi Dangarembga's 'Nervous Conditions' is a coming-of-age story set in colonial Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The novel follows Tambudzai, a young girl who struggles to gain an education and navigate th...

While primarily a novel, Yaa Gyasis Homegoing is written with a lyrical and poetic prose style that lends itself beautifully to a poetic reading. The novel follows the descendants of two half-sisters,...

Seth Dickinsons novel is a unique, highly intellectual work of political and economic fantasy. Baru Cormorant, a brilliant accountant, joins the empire that conquered her homeland, intending to destro...

*The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch*, published in 1965, explores the dangers of escapism and the blurring of reality through the use of a hallucinogenic drug called Can-D. Set on a colonized plan...

Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart' is a foundational work of modern African literature, depicting the pre-colonial Igbo society and the devastating impact of British colonialism. The novel follows Ok...

Empire, hosted by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand, provides a critical and deeply researched look at the history of empires, starting with the British in India. The show is notable for its willingne...

Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice is a unique space opera told from the perspective of Breq, a soldier who was once a massive starship AI. Now trapped in a single human body, Breq seeks revenge against t...

Achebe's *Things Fall Apart* is a powerful novel that depicts the clash between traditional Igbo culture and the arrival of European colonialism in Nigeria. The story follows Okonkwo, a respected warr...

Felix Tuye Kamano's 'Houseboy' is a powerful and deeply personal memoir recounting his experiences as a houseboy for a French colonial administrator in Cameroon. The novel explores themes of identity,...

E.M. Forster's novel explores the complexities of relationships between British colonizers and Indians in early 20th-century India. The novel examines themes of race, class, and the challenges of cros...

This work examines the interconnectedness of the world economy in the 16th and 17th centuries, focusing on the role of silver and spices in driving global trade. It details the rise of European mercan...

M.M. Kaye's 'The Far Pavilions' is a sweeping historical romance set during the British Raj in India. The novel follows the life of Ashton Ramsay, an English boy raised as a Hindu, and his love for an...

Sven Lindqvist, awarded in 2015, is a Swedish author known for his non-fiction works that critically examine colonialism and its impact on history. *Exterminate the Brutes* is a powerful and unsettlin...

A Mercy, published in 2008, is set in 17th-century New York and explores the lives of slaves and indentured servants in colonial America. Morrison examines themes of slavery, identity, and the complex...

Kwame Nkrumahs 'The Story of My Life' is an autobiography detailing his early life and political awakening. The novel chronicles his journey from a young boy in Ghana to a prominent leader in the Pan-...

This book offers a vital and often-overlooked perspective on the Irish Famine, focusing on the experiences of ordinary people and challenging dominant narratives of natural disaster. It examines the r...

Hassan Sheriffs 'The Land Is Bright' is a coming-of-age story set in colonial Sierra Leone. The novel follows a young boy as he navigates the complexities of his family and community, grappling with i...

António Salazar, Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968, maintained an authoritarian regime known as the Estado Novo. While his government achieved economic stability and neutrality during World...

This book re-evaluates the Age of Exploration through the lens of indigenous knowledge systems. It examines how European explorers interacted with and often appropriated the knowledge of local populat...

*The Crack in Space* is an early Dick novel that explores themes of colonialism, identity, and the dangers of unchecked ambition. A man discovers a 'crack' in space that allows him to travel to alter...

This biography by Alistair Finch chronicles the life and expeditions of David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary and explorer who mapped vast regions of Africa. Finch examines Livingstones motivations...

*Martian Dust Devil* is a short novel set on a terraformed Mars, where a man investigates a series of mysterious events involving an artificial intelligence and a group of colonists. It explores them...

Sandkings is a novella exploring themes of colonialism, power, and the nature of civilization through the lens of a human governor ruling over an insectoid species on a desert planet. It's a dark and...

This book traces the global journey of coffee, from its origins in Ethiopia to its widespread consumption around the world. It examines the role of coffee in shaping economic systems, social movements...