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Banned Books

The World's Most Controversial Books, Past and Present

Author DK
Hardcover
$17.99 US
6.13"W x 7.88"H x 0.84"D   | 17 oz | 18 per carton
On sale Aug 30, 2022 | 192 Pages | 9780744056280
Immerse yourself in the stories behind the most shocking and infamous books ever published!

Censorship of one form or another has existed almost as long as the written word, while definitions of what is deemed "acceptable" in published works have shifted over the centuries, and from culture to culture.

Banned Books explores why some of the world’s most important literary classics and seminal non-fiction titles were once deemed too controversial for the public to read – whether for challenging racial or sexual norms, satirizing public figures, or simply being deemed unfit for young readers. From the banning of All Quiet on the Western Front and the repeated suppression of On the Origin of the Species, to 1984, Fahrenheit 45, Catcher in the Rye and Huckleberry Fin, this must-have volume examines the astonishing role that some banned books have played in changing history. 

Packed with eye-opening insights into the history of the written word, and the political and social climate during the period of suppression or censorship, this is a must-read for anyone interested in literature; creative writing; politics; history or the law.

Delve into this compelling collection of the world’s most controversial books to discover: 

- Covers a broad range of genres and subject areas in fiction and non-fiction, ranging from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to Spycatcher
- Offers informative insights into society, politics, law, and religious beliefs, in different countries around the world
- Features images of first editions and specially commissioned illustrations of the books’ authors
- Includes extracts from the banned books along with key quotations about them
- Completely global in scope

A must-have volume for avid readers and literary scholars alike, alongside those with an interest in the law, politics and censorship, Banned Books profiles a selection of the most infamous, intriguing and controversial books ever written, whilst offering a unique perspective on the history of the written word, with insights into the often surprising reasons books have been banned throughout history and across the world. 

Whether as a gift or self-purchase, this brilliant book is a must-have addition to the library of curious thinkers, borrowers and lifelong learners. If you enjoy Banned Books, then why not try Great Loves - the first title in DK’s quirky new hardback series, full of insightful and intriguing topics.
We believe in the power of discovery. That's why we create books for everyone that explore ideas and nurture curiosity about the world we live in.
 
From first words to the Big Bang, from the wonders of nature to city adventures, you will find expert knowledge, hours of fun and endless inspiration in the pages of our books. 

https://www.dk.com/ View titles by DK
Introduction

Pre-1900

The Decameron
The Canterbury Tales
Wycliffe’s Bible
Dialogue On the Two Chief World Systems
The Response
Moll Flanders
120 Days of Sodom

The 19th Century

Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Frankenstein
The History of Mary Prince
The Communist Manifesto
Leaves of Grass
Madame Bovary
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Earth
The Awakening
Between the Wars
Ulysses
Mein Kampf
Elmer Gantry
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
The Well of Loneliness
A Farewell to Arms
All Quiet on the Western Front
As I Lay Dying
Brave New World
Tropic of Cancer
Mephisto
Gone With the Wind
Their Eyes Were Watching God
The Grapes of Wrath

The Postwar Years

Black Boy
The Diary of a Young Girl
1984
The Hive
The Catcher in the Rye
Fahrenheit 451
The Lord of the Flies
Lolita
Giovanni’s Room
Doctor Zhivago
Borstal Boy
Things Fall Apart
Naked Lunch
A Raisin in the Sun
To Kill a Mockingbird
Catch-22
A Clockwork Orange
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The Late 20th Century

The Autobiography of Malcolm X
In Cold Blood
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Slaughterhouse-Five
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret
Black Voices from Prison
Maurice
The Gulag Archipelago
Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin
The Color Purple
The House of the Spirits
The House on Mango Street
The Bus Stop
The Handmaid’s Tale
Beloved
Spycatcher
The Satanic Verses
The Alchemist
Final Exit
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
American Psycho
Shame
The God of Small Things
His Dark Materials
The Harry Potter Series

The 21st Century

Persepolis
The Kite Runner
The Bastard of Istanbul
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
The Absolutely True Diaryof a Part-Time Indian
The Cartoons that Shook the World
Melissa (formerly George)
The Hate U Give
Killing Commendatore
I Hate Men
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
This Is a Swedish Tiger
1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows

Index
Acknowledgments

About

Immerse yourself in the stories behind the most shocking and infamous books ever published!

Censorship of one form or another has existed almost as long as the written word, while definitions of what is deemed "acceptable" in published works have shifted over the centuries, and from culture to culture.

Banned Books explores why some of the world’s most important literary classics and seminal non-fiction titles were once deemed too controversial for the public to read – whether for challenging racial or sexual norms, satirizing public figures, or simply being deemed unfit for young readers. From the banning of All Quiet on the Western Front and the repeated suppression of On the Origin of the Species, to 1984, Fahrenheit 45, Catcher in the Rye and Huckleberry Fin, this must-have volume examines the astonishing role that some banned books have played in changing history. 

Packed with eye-opening insights into the history of the written word, and the political and social climate during the period of suppression or censorship, this is a must-read for anyone interested in literature; creative writing; politics; history or the law.

Delve into this compelling collection of the world’s most controversial books to discover: 

- Covers a broad range of genres and subject areas in fiction and non-fiction, ranging from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to Spycatcher
- Offers informative insights into society, politics, law, and religious beliefs, in different countries around the world
- Features images of first editions and specially commissioned illustrations of the books’ authors
- Includes extracts from the banned books along with key quotations about them
- Completely global in scope

A must-have volume for avid readers and literary scholars alike, alongside those with an interest in the law, politics and censorship, Banned Books profiles a selection of the most infamous, intriguing and controversial books ever written, whilst offering a unique perspective on the history of the written word, with insights into the often surprising reasons books have been banned throughout history and across the world. 

Whether as a gift or self-purchase, this brilliant book is a must-have addition to the library of curious thinkers, borrowers and lifelong learners. If you enjoy Banned Books, then why not try Great Loves - the first title in DK’s quirky new hardback series, full of insightful and intriguing topics.

Author

We believe in the power of discovery. That's why we create books for everyone that explore ideas and nurture curiosity about the world we live in.
 
From first words to the Big Bang, from the wonders of nature to city adventures, you will find expert knowledge, hours of fun and endless inspiration in the pages of our books. 

https://www.dk.com/ View titles by DK

Table of Contents

Introduction

Pre-1900

The Decameron
The Canterbury Tales
Wycliffe’s Bible
Dialogue On the Two Chief World Systems
The Response
Moll Flanders
120 Days of Sodom

The 19th Century

Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Frankenstein
The History of Mary Prince
The Communist Manifesto
Leaves of Grass
Madame Bovary
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Earth
The Awakening
Between the Wars
Ulysses
Mein Kampf
Elmer Gantry
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
The Well of Loneliness
A Farewell to Arms
All Quiet on the Western Front
As I Lay Dying
Brave New World
Tropic of Cancer
Mephisto
Gone With the Wind
Their Eyes Were Watching God
The Grapes of Wrath

The Postwar Years

Black Boy
The Diary of a Young Girl
1984
The Hive
The Catcher in the Rye
Fahrenheit 451
The Lord of the Flies
Lolita
Giovanni’s Room
Doctor Zhivago
Borstal Boy
Things Fall Apart
Naked Lunch
A Raisin in the Sun
To Kill a Mockingbird
Catch-22
A Clockwork Orange
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The Late 20th Century

The Autobiography of Malcolm X
In Cold Blood
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Slaughterhouse-Five
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret
Black Voices from Prison
Maurice
The Gulag Archipelago
Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin
The Color Purple
The House of the Spirits
The House on Mango Street
The Bus Stop
The Handmaid’s Tale
Beloved
Spycatcher
The Satanic Verses
The Alchemist
Final Exit
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
American Psycho
Shame
The God of Small Things
His Dark Materials
The Harry Potter Series

The 21st Century

Persepolis
The Kite Runner
The Bastard of Istanbul
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
The Absolutely True Diaryof a Part-Time Indian
The Cartoons that Shook the World
Melissa (formerly George)
The Hate U Give
Killing Commendatore
I Hate Men
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
This Is a Swedish Tiger
1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows

Index
Acknowledgments