Home » Latest News » History of Banned Books

This article is about 11 years old

History of Banned Books

Ulysses The 1922 magnum opus by James Joyce was banned in the United Kingdom until the 1930s. It has also been banned in the U.S. and Australia.

(Amazon)

Harry Potter Yes, even the boy wizard upset some readers. The series was considered so controversial by parents in Lewiston, Maine, that they staged a good old-fashioned book-burning.

(Amazon)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Sherman Alexie's 2007 young adult book about a Native American teenager has come under fire from schools throughout the country.

It is considered controversial by some by of its depictions of alcohol, poverty, bullying, homosexuality and violence.

(Amazon)

The Satanic Verses Riots literally broke out when this book debuted in 1989. The novel by Salman Rushdie was considered blasphemous against Islam.

It was banned in Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Thailand.

(Amazon)

Green Eggs and Ham Dr. Suess might be considered a children's author by many, but his 1960 book was banned in China for its portrayal of Marxism.

(Amazon)

Naked Lunch Written by Beat godfather William S. Burroughs, the 1959 drug-addled story was banned in Boston in 1962.

(Amazon)

Lolita Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 tale about a high-fuctioning pedophile was deemed too racy for France, the United Kingdom, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.

(Amazon)

The Catcher in the Rye American Library Association says the J.D. Salinger book has been a "favorite of censors since its publication" in 1951.

(Amazon)

Animal Farm The George Orwell classic about animals that take over a farm has been banned in many Communist countries such as Soviet Russia, Cuba, North Korea and China.

The United Arab Emirates also banned the 1945 book because of anthropomorphism. </br
"1984" was also banned by the U.S.S.R.

(Amazon)

Brave New World Ireland and Austria banned the Aldous Huxley novel because of sexual content. It was first published in 1932.

(Amazon)

All Quiet on the Western Front Written at the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, Nazi Germany banned the anti-war book by Erich Maria Remarque.

(Amazon)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn In 1885, the year it was released, Concord Public Library in Massachusetts banned Mark Twain's biggest work because of "coarse" language.

(Amazon)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Written in 1865 by Lewis Carroll, the fantasy tale about a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole and arrives in a magical land has been banned in New Hampshire for sexual innuendo and in China for anthropomorphizing animals.

(Amazon)

Uncle Tom's Cabin The 1852 anti-slavery book by Harriet Beecher Stowe was banned in the Confederate South.

(Amazon)

Frankenstein The 1818 novel by Mary Shelley was banned in South Africa in 1955 for obscenity.

(Amazon)

Rights of Man Thomas Paine was a vigorous supporter of the French Revolution. Not surprisingly, the Englsh crown didn't share his sympathies and banned the book, which was written in 1791.

(Amazon)

Candide A satire first published in 1759 by French philosopher Voltaire, it was considered blasphemy by some religious groups.

"Candide" describes one young man's disillusionment with his Eden-like paradise -- a thinly veiled criticism of the religious, institutional and philosophical trends of Voltaire's time.

(Amazon)

The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders Written in 1722 by Daniel Defoe, it was banned in the U.S. under the Federal Anti-Obscenity Act of 1873, which outlawed the shipping or receiving of obscene materials.

(Amazon)

The Canterbury Tales The 14th-century collection of tales by Geoffrey Chaucer was banned in the U.S. in the 19th century under the Federal Anti-Obscenity Act.

(Amazon)

The Bible In 1234, King James I ordered the burning of Bibles in the vernacular. Some American states, such as Arizona, have banned students from reading it in the classroom. It has also been banned in North Korea and other parts of the globe.

(Amazon)

(1/21)

Share This Gallery:

Related News

About 250,000 mourners pay last respects to Pope Francis over 3 days of public viewing

About 250,000 mourners pay last respects to Pope Francis over 3 days of public viewing

Pope Francis bestowed a special nickname on AP’s Vatican reporter for her often-tough questions

Pope Francis bestowed a special nickname on AP’s Vatican reporter for her often-tough questions

Why Trump’s call for the Fed to cut interest rates may not help consumers

Why Trump’s call for the Fed to cut interest rates may not help consumers

Recommended

Kennedy Center’s events scheduled for LGBTQ+ pride celebration canceled, organizers say

Kennedy Center’s events scheduled for LGBTQ+ pride celebration canceled, organizers say

'I did not accept that': Virginia Gov. Youngkin asks radio host to withdraw from lieutenant governor race

'I did not accept that': Virginia Gov. Youngkin asks radio host to withdraw from lieutenant governor race

Loudoun County schools superintendent says no to signing anti-DEI certification

Loudoun County schools superintendent says no to signing anti-DEI certification

Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.