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

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

Why the Harry Potter Series Was Banned Since the first book’s release in 1997, the Harry Potter series has become one of the most popular and best-selling in history. But alongside its massive success, it has faced repeated bans and challenges in schools and libraries around the world. Many of these objections came from religious … Read more

Why The Call of the Wild Was Banned When The Call of the Wild was first published in 1903, it was widely praised as a gripping adventure story. But it also found itself on banned book lists in different times and places. In some U.S. schools, it was challenged for its violent depictions of survival, … Read more