General Chatter, The Week in Books

Books that were previously banned

By Rebecca Reed

Many of the classics that we know and love today were frowned upon due to their content. So we have compiled a list of banned books for Banned Book Week, and some may surprise you.

Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging – Louise Rennison
The first in the hugely popular teenage angst series that featured on many a high school girls bookshelves, the main character Georgia Nicholson discussed boys, lesbianism, pornography and erections this subject material made this book a target for censorship in US schools.

His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
This popular trilogy was mostly criticised in the US for its apparent attack on the church and religion altogether. The author Philip Pullman does admit the books are about “The Killing of God”. To add to the books controversial nature, the sexual awakening of Lyra has been removed from some editions.

The Lord of the Rings – J. R. R. Tolkien.
This book has been banned in the past as they are deemed as “satanic” and the books were even burned by members of a church in New Mexico. However, J. R. R. Tolkien was a devout Christian and many scholars note Christian themes in his work.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
A childhood novel that has been the pinnacle of many bedtime stories and adaptions Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was banned in China because the animals in the novel were acting on the same level as humans.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling.
A favourite of ours here at World of Books, we are the first to jump at any Harry Potter goodness. So, we were surprised to learn that the first book in the wizarding saga was banned and burned in many US states for promoting witchcraft.

Gone with the Wind – Margaret Mitchel
The novel that set many hearts aflutter with the introduction of Rhett Butler. This novel has been banned in various US states for containing racist language.

Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
A staple of many English literature GCSE lessons here in England but this novella contained offensive and vulgar language, racism, sexism and promoted euthanasia. These are all accusations that this book has received. Due to the above reasons you will often find this book on the American list of the most censored book in schools.

Animal Farm – George Orwell
Animal Farm powerfully demonstrates the importance of democracy and freedom of speech. However, allied forces found the book critical of the USSR and found it too controversial to print during war-time. A play of Animal Farm was banned in Kenya as it was too critical of corrupt leaders. You will often find this and Nineteen Eighty-Four by the same author on the banned books list.

There are many other Banned Books and many are still banned today. You can stock up on all your bookish needs here at World of Books.

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6 Comments

  • Reply Anne Dickinson September 26, 2019 at 8:36 pm

    How crazy. I love all these books and the movies. That is the trouble with the world today…everything is health & safety daft. People should be able to make up their own minds what they wish to watch or read.World gone mad. 🤷‍♀️

  • Reply Agamemnon September 27, 2019 at 5:57 am

    The only one that was understandably banned was ‘Animal Farm’ – it was pretty in appropriate to publish such a novel during war time when the USSR were not only allies, but victims of General Plan Ost, a Nazi order to exterminate the people of the USSR. I don’t agree with banning it, but I do understand the decision. The banning of the rest is beyond ridiculous. ‘Alice In Wonderland’?! ‘The Lord of The Rings’?!

  • Reply Martin Blackburn September 27, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    Interesting list, but I think you’ve missed out a crucial author who is still effectively banned today. Waterstone’s are refusing to stock “The Trigger” ( an expose of 9/11) by David Icke as they did with his previous book “Everything You Need to Know But have Never Been Told” on the grounds that it was anti-Semitic (it certainly is not, though it is anti-Rothschild Zionist) . David Icke goes further than anyone in exposing the shadow powers who control the world we live in today and how they go about it from Bilderberg,
    Rothschild Zionist Cabal and Elites, the Illuminati, naming and shaming American Presidents and their lackeys, British Prime Ministers and their Satanic puppet masters via Big Pharma, censorship, surveillance, destruction of civil liberties, tiptoe totalitarianism, multinationals, 5G , child exploitation, etc. etc. Makes Orwell’s “1984” look like a fairy tale by comparison. And Icke is NOT writing fiction. Why is it you can easily buy a copy of Adolph Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” on Amazon but David Icke’s books are nowhere to be seen on the high street !!? Banned by the very establishments he exposes. If I’ve now got your attention the only outlet where you can get hold of Icke’s work, to my knowledge, is from his own website shop: http://www.davidicke.com…the truth IS out there. Read it while you still have chance.

  • Reply Janet Cook September 27, 2019 at 4:59 pm

    I’m surprised at how many banned books I have read!
    Keep up your lovely work,

  • Reply Ian Shillabeer April 30, 2021 at 5:31 am

    just received my second hand hard copy of Newmans Unquiet Grave its like NEW at the third of the cost of a new book no marks or notes – wonderful!

    • Reply Jonella Vidal May 4, 2021 at 12:08 pm

      We’re so glad! Please do feel free to leave us a review on Trustpilot https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/worldofbooks.com

      After you’ve read the book, you can also review the book itself on the product page on our website.

      Happy Reading!
      Jonella

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