The novel centers around Veronika, a young woman from Slovenia who, disillusioned by her life and the world, decides to commit suicide. Surviving her attempt, she wakes up in a mental institution where she learns that her failed attempt has left her with only a few days to live. During her stay, she meets a variety of characters, each with their own mental issues, who help her to see her life in a new perspective. The story explores themes of madness, individuality, and the value of life, challenging societal norms and questioning the meaning of sanity.

The novel is a stark portrayal of small-town life in Scotland at the turn of the 20th century, focusing on the Gourlay family, who are brought to ruin by the tyrannical and arrogant John Gourlay. Despite his initial success as a merchant, Gourlay's hubris and inability to adapt to changing times lead to his downfall, exacerbated by the malicious gossip and envy of his neighbors. The story is a grim depiction of the destructive power of pride and the often cruel nature of community life, where the failings of one family become a spectacle for public scorn and schadenfreude. The green shutters of the Gourlay's house come to symbolize the envy and the facade of respectability that hide the family's internal decay and disintegration.

This novel follows the journey of a young woman in early 20th-century Brazil as she breaks free from the constraints of a repressive household and an arranged marriage. Yearning for independence and driven by a rebellious spirit, she embarks on a transformative adventure that takes her from the conservative hinterlands to the more liberal coastal cities. Along the way, she encounters a variety of characters, confronts the challenges of a society in flux, and seeks to define her own identity against the backdrop of a country grappling with modernization and change. Her story is a poignant exploration of self-discovery, feminism, and the quest for personal freedom.

A stranger arrives in the small town of Viscos, carrying with him a choice that could bless or curse the entire community. The town's inhabitants are forced to confront their deepest fears and question their moral compasses as they wrestle with the stranger's proposition: he will give them a fortune in gold if they kill one of their own. The stranger's presence stirs up chaos and brings to light the darkness within the human soul, challenging the townsfolk to make a decision that will determine their future.

"Shuggie Bain" is a heart-wrenching tale set in 1980s Glasgow, Scotland, centered on a young boy, Shuggie, who is struggling with his mother's deteriorating mental health and alcoholism. As he tries to navigate his own burgeoning sexuality in a harsh, unforgiving environment, he also strives to care for his mother, who is trapped in a cycle of addiction and abusive relationships. The book gives a stark portrayal of poverty, addiction, love, and the human spirit's resilience.

The unfinished novel set in the time of the Napoleonic Wars tells the story of Archie Weir, a young man at odds with his stern father, Lord Hermiston, the Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland. Exiled to his family's rural estate, Hermiston, after expressing unpopular opinions in court, Archie falls in love with Christina Elliott, a spirited local girl. The narrative explores themes of justice, passion, and societal expectations, as Archie's personal growth and romantic desires clash with the harsh realities of his father's unyielding moral code. The novel's abrupt end, due to the author's untimely death, leaves the resolution of these conflicts to the reader's imagination.

Set in the impoverished slums of Glasgow during the 1930s, the play delves into the struggles of a working-class family grappling with the crushing weight of poverty, unemployment, and the societal expectations of the time. It poignantly portrays the life of a mother who, amidst the squalor and the daily battle for survival, strives to maintain dignity and hope for her family. Through her eyes, the audience witnesses the harsh realities of life and the resilience of the human spirit, as she navigates the challenges of keeping her family together and the complex dynamics of love, conflict, and aspiration within the cramped walls of their tenement home.