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When Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 was published in 1961, it quickly became both celebrated and controversial. The novel, with its biting satire of war and bureaucracy, was banned and challenged in several schools and libraries in the United States. Authorities objected to its profanity, its sexual references, and its irreverent tone toward military authority. In the … Read more
When Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn published One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich in 1962, it marked a shocking moment in Soviet literature. For the first time, a novel openly described life in a Stalinist labor camp. Though it was briefly allowed during Nikita Khrushchev’s “Thaw,” the book was later banned as political winds shifted. Authorities … Read more
When Doctor Zhivago was first completed in the 1950s, it was immediately banned in the Soviet Union. Authorities objected to its portrayal of the Russian Revolution and the years that followed, believing the novel was critical of the Bolsheviks and the Communist regime. The book presented the upheaval not as a glorious triumph but as … Read more
When Salman Rushdie published The Satanic Verses in 1988, it immediately became one of the most controversial books of modern times. The novel was banned in several countries, including India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, because of accusations that it was blasphemous toward Islam. Critics objected to its portrayal of a character inspired by the Prophet … Read more
When D.H. Lawrence published Lady Chatterley’s Lover in 1928, it immediately became one of the most controversial novels of the 20th century. The book was banned in multiple countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, because of its explicit sexual content and use of words that were considered obscene at the time. More … Read more
Banned Book Spotlight: The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio Why the Book Still Matters Today Written in the 14th century, The Decameron feels shockingly modern. Its stories confront human desire, hypocrisy, corruption, and survival during crisis—issues that still shape our world. Set against the backdrop of the Black Death, the book shows how people turn to … Read more
Why The 120 Days of Sodom Was Banned Few books in history have been as notorious as The 120 Days of Sodom. Written in 1785 by the Marquis de Sade while imprisoned in the Bastille, the work was immediately considered scandalous. It was banned for its graphic depictions of sexual violence, blasphemy, and cruelty. The … Read more
Why For Whom the Bell Tolls Was Banned When Ernest Hemingway published For Whom the Bell Tolls in 1940, it quickly became both celebrated and controversial. The novel was challenged and banned in parts of the United States for its use of profanity, sexual content, and depictions of violence. Some school boards and libraries considered … Read more
Top Reasons Books Are Banned Books have been banned for centuries, and while the titles may change, the motivations behind censorship are often remarkably similar. Every year, schools and libraries around the world face challenges to the books they make available. In the United States, the American Library Association (ALA) and PEN America track these … Read more
Why The Country Girls Was Banned When The Country Girls was published in 1960, it caused an uproar in Ireland. The novel’s frank portrayal of female friendship, love, and sexuality challenged the strict moral codes of a deeply conservative society. It was banned by the Irish Censorship Board for being “indecent and obscene,” with critics … Read more