Throughout human history, fiction has been a recurring theme of censorship. Whether it's politics, religion, or sexuality, there's always someone somewhere in the world who's been stirred up a little too much.
In today's book-friendly society, however, we are allowed to read about everything from corruption and violence to sex and drugs without fear of reprisal. To celebrate this fact, here we give you a list of ten famous books that have been banned over the years, but which we can access freely today.
If you have another favorite book that you know has been banned, feel free to comment in the comments!
10. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley (1818)
Frankenstein Mary Shelley's monster classic (Flood) was banned in South Africa during apartheid for "obscene" and "inappropriate" content.
9. All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque (1929)
Nothing New on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque's classic account of World War I was banned in Nazi Germany during the war years on the grounds that it was demoralizing and abusive.
8. American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis (1991)
"Bret Easton Ellis" macabre novel about serial killer Patrick Bateman was considered so violent that both the sale and purchase of the book were banned in the Australian state of Queensland. Today, however, it is once again available to the public, but there is still an 18-year time limit across the country to have a copy in one's possession.
7. Animal Farm - George Orwell (1945)
George Orwell's satirical novel about a farm where the animals rebel against their farmer has been banned in several countries over the years, but for different reasons. The book was banned immediately after its publication in the Soviet Union and other communist countries for ideological reasons, and in Kenya, a theater was denied the fable because of its criticism of corrupt leaders.
In 2002, the novel was withdrawn from schools in the United Arab Emirates because it contained text and images inconsistent with Islamic values. The presence of a human-like, talking pig was particularly upsetting. "Animal Farm" is still banned in both Cuba and North Korea, and is only available in a censored version in China.
6. The bible
The world's best-selling book is not available anywhere in North Korea. However, the closed dictatorship is far from the only country that has banned Christianity's holy scripture throughout history.
5. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (2003)
Dan Brown's best-seller was banned in Lebanon in 2004 when Catholic leaders considered the book offensive to Christianity.
4. The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank (1947)
So it was time for Lebanon to show its front foot again! "Anne Frank's Diary" was banned in the country for its "favorable portrayal of Jews, Israel and Zionism.
3. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley (1932)
Aldous Huxley's parody of H.G. Wells' utopian account of "Men Like Gods" is not unlike George Orwell's classic "1984." Why was it banned? Initially, it was the Irish who pulled the book from the shelves because of their controversial views on childbirth. In the United States, several states have tried to remove "Brave New World" from the curriculum because of its "negative subject matter."
2. The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (1939)
John Steinbeck's 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath, was banned for a time in California in part because of its alleged "flattering portrayal of the people of the region."
1. The Satanic Verses - Salman Rushdie (1988)
Salman Rushdie got a fatwa on his satanic verses hanging ... In the following countries, the "satanic verses" of alleged blasphemy against Islam were banned: Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Thailand.
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