Why Leaves of Grass Was Banned When Walt Whitman first published Leaves of Grass in 1855, it was like nothing American readers had seen before. The poetry was bold, free-flowing, and deeply personal. But what really shocked people was its openness about the human body, sexuality, and desire. For a society that valued modesty and … Read more
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway is a classic war novel that has been frequently challenged and banned for its strong language, sexual content, and themes of war and death. Since its publication in 1929, the book has faced censorship in schools and libraries, especially during times when its frank treatment of war and … Read more
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin is a deeply moving and personal novel that has been challenged over the years for its candid depictions of sexuality and its bold exploration of religious themes. Some readers have objected to the book’s portrayal of same-sex desire, as well as its critical look at the … Read more
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner is a classic novel that has been banned and challenged for its dark themes, strong language, and moral questions. The book explores death in a raw and unfiltered way, which some readers and school boards have found disturbing. Its use of coarse language and the complex, sometimes uncomfortable … Read more
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is a powerful and poetic novel that has faced challenges and bans over the years. It has been criticized for its use of strong language and sexual content, with some schools and libraries removing it from shelves. Critics have argued that the book’s honest portrayal of … Read more
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a classic novel that has often been challenged for its themes of moral corruption, hedonism, and sexuality. When it was first published in 1890, the book shocked readers with its bold ideas and dark tone. Some critics called it immoral, and parts of the original version … Read more
Native Son by Richard Wright has long been a lightning rod for controversy, frequently challenged and banned for its graphic depictions of violence, sexual content, and strong language. Since its publication in 1940, the novel has faced criticism from school boards, parents, and censors who argue that its disturbing scenes and unfiltered portrayal of racial … Read more
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is one of the most controversial and frequently banned books in literary history. First published in 1955, the novel faced immediate backlash for its provocative subject matter, which centers on the obsessive and illicit relationship between a middle-aged man and a twelve-year-old girl. The book’s explicit sexual themes and depiction of … Read more
The Trial by Franz Kafka is one of the most profound and unsettling novels of the 20th century, yet it has also faced challenges and bans due to its themes, political undertones, and unsettling portrayal of authority. While The Trial has not been universally or frequently banned in the same way as some other classics, … Read more
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou is a powerful autobiographical work that has inspired generations of readers, yet it has also faced repeated challenges and bans in schools across the United States. The book has been censored for its frank discussions of sexual abuse, racism, trauma, and identity. Some of the … Read more