Banned And Bold: The 7 Most Dangerous Books In Literary History
Literature has long been a source of escape, enlightenment, and knowledge. However, throughout history, numerous books have faced the ban hammer of governments around the world for various reasons. Let's explore a few such books and the rationale behind their bans.
1. 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell
George Orwell's 1945 satirical novella, 'Animal Farm,' portrays a group of farm animals overthrowing their oppressive owner, triggering a power struggle among the animals. Orwell penned this as a satirical critique of communism, resulting in a ban in the Soviet Union upon its release. Astonishingly, the book remains banned in Cuba and North Korea. Additionally, the UAE banned it due to the depiction of talking pigs, which conflicted with Islamic beliefs.
2. 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell
Following his controversial 'Animal Farm,' George Orwell authored 'Nineteen Eighty-Four,' a dystopian novel that was likewise banned by the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin , who perceived it as a commentary on his style of governance. The book remained banned in the Soviet Union until 1990. Reports even suggest that various social groups in the USA attempted to remove it from store shelves.
3. 'The Satanic Verses' by Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie's 1988 novel, 'The Satanic Verses,' centres on references to the Satanic Verses in the Quran and sparked a wider debate about censorship and religious violence. Consequently, it was banned in multiple countries, including India, Bangladesh, Thailand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, among others. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against Rushdie's life, leading to assassination attempts and forcing the author into hiding under British police protection for years. While the controversy has subsided and Khomeini has passed away, the fatwa remains in place.
4. 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll's classic, 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,' published in 1865, is a beloved tale worldwide. Surprisingly, an American school removed it from its curriculum in 1990, citing expletives and sexual fantasies. More recently, a Chinese province banned the book because it portrayed talking animals, raising concerns about animals being depicted as equals to humans and its societal impact. Despite these bans, Carroll's work remains a cherished classic.
5. ' Mein Kampf ' by Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler's autobiography, 'Mein Kampf' (German for 'My Struggle'), was published in 1925 and espoused his rigid antisemitism, which played a significant role in the Holocaust. Following World War II, efforts were made to limit access to the book. Postwar German law banned the sale and public display of Nazi philosophy, and the copyright was held by the German state of Bavaria, which refused publishing rights. Foreign publishers continued to print it, drawing condemnation worldwide, particularly from white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups. In 2016, the copyright expired, and a heavily annotated edition was subsequently published.
6. 'Fifty Shades of Grey' by EL James
E.L. James, under her pen name Erika Leonard, is renowned for her erotic 'Fifty Shades' novels, which gained immense popularity for their steamy content. These books, while becoming global bestsellers and movie adaptations, were banned in three American states and Malaysia due to their explicit, pornographic content.
7. 'Ulysses' by James Joyce
James Joyce's 'Ulysses,' released in 1920, faced bans for obscenity even before its publication as a complete novel. The book was considered contraband in the United States for over a decade, as a specific excerpt was deemed objectionable. The UK similarly banned it until the mid-1930s for explicit sexuality and graphic depictions of bodily functions. Australia intermittently enforced suppression until the mid-1950s. Despite these controversies, 'Ulysses' is highly regarded by universities worldwide for its plot and themes.
(With AI Inputs)
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