Controversial literature (Library of Congress Subject Headings)

Controversial Literature is any written work that has been challenged or banned. Through out history religious, historical, scientific text and stories have caused controversy in a society due to a conflict of morals beliefs and politics. They have been challenged by politicians and special interest groups with an agenda. In the United States woks of literature are not banned by the Federal government because they are protected by the 1st Amendment. However they are removed from schools and libraries because by State government because of peruse form interest groups. Countries in Europe don’t necessarily ban books because of free speech laws with the exception with nations with anti-Nazi laws in such as Germany.

Why Controversial

There are reasons why certain works of literature have became controversial. It has gain the controversy when it was published first or many years later because of poltical changes in the time. Their are several reasons why a work of liture becomes controversial.

• Racsim - Recently elements or content of racism has become common among controversial literature. This type of controversy comes up when a work of literature potrays a certain ethnic group in a derogatory war or for the use of ethnic sluers. Recently certain works that were writin to critize the Jim Crow Laws have came under attack for using the word "Nigger".

• Religous - Religon has been a key factor in controversial literature. Works that have contain blasphemy have creat controversy among religous groups. Many works have been banned or dystoyed for passgaes that cotain elements of blasphemy towards God or a symbolic figure in a faith. Other works have contained content that is offinsive to a certain faith.

• Sexual Conten - Works containing sexual content have always caused controversy, espcially in the United States. Many cultures are not open about sexuality and is never allowed to be talked about open. In certain works the sexual content involves minors which many see offensive. Sometimes the sexual content may be a character sexuality and it causes an uproar towards anti-homosexuals.

• Inaccuracy - Historical and biographical works cause controversy. This happens when certain elements are edited or fabricated.

• Politics - Works of liture about poltics have caused controversy when the work has critisied a goverment or politician. Other times it could be critising a poltical action or goverment law.

List of Controversial literature

This is a list of literature that has been challenged or banned. It inculeds novels, short stories, historical, and religous text.

#

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
The 9/11 Commission Report	National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States	Senate Report	Criticized for alleged inaccuracies and for having important details edited out due to the pressure from lobbyists.
The 95 Theses	Martin Luther	Document	Pope Leo X condemned it for heresy against the Catholic Church and had Martin Luther excommunicated.

A

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
The Adventures of Captain Underpants	Dav Pilkey	Novella	Banned in schools because of the use of toilet humor.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn	Mark Twain	Novel	Challenged and banned in schools for the use of the word "Nigger"
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer	Mark Twain	Novel	Challenged and banned in schools for the use of the word "Nigger"
The Age of Reason	Thomas Paine	Philosophical Treaties	Banned in UK for blasphemy in the 18th Century
All Quiet on the Western Front	Erich Maria Remarque	Anti-war Novel	Banned in Nazi Germany for demoralizing and insulting the Wehrmacht.
America (The Book)	The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Humor	Removed from Walmart due to images of nudity.
An Inconvenient Truth	Al Gore	Environmental Treaties	Opponents of the global warming criticized it as propaganda. Schools have limited the use of the book in classrooms.
The Anarchist Cookbook	William Powell	Guide Book	Banned outside of the US because security reasons. Sale of the book is prohibited to any one under 21.
Animal Farm	George Orwell	Novella	Publication delayed in UK because of anti-Stalin theme. Confiscated in Germany by Allied troops. Banned in Malaysia for religious reasons.
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret	Judy Blume	Novel	Banned in schools for its sexual and religious themes.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X	Alex Haley	Biography	Challenged by the Nation of Islam for historical inaccuracy.

B

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Bible		Religious Text	Has been edited over time. Banned in Communist countries that support Atheism. Banned in Saudi Arabia for not being of the Muslim faith.
Biko	Donald Woods	Biography	Banned in South Africa for its criticism of the apartheid system and white government.
Black Beauty	Anna Sewell	Novel	Was banned in South Africa because of the use of the word 'black' in the title.
The Blue Lotus	Hergé	Graphic Novel	Banned in the PRC for its pro Kuomintang view and support. Criticized by Japanese diplomats to the Belgian Foreign Ministry for its portrayal of Japan's involvement in China.
The Book of One Thousand and One Nights		Collection	Banned in Muslim countries for its depiction of strong women.
Brave New World	Aldous Huxley	Novel	Challenged in schools because of its negative views.
Bridge to Terabithia	Katherine Paterson	Novel	Challenged in schools because of death involved in the theme and the use of the word Lord outside of a prayer.

C

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
The Call of Cthulhu	H.P. Lovecraft	Short Story	Elements of racism towards Southeast Asians.
The Call of the Wild	Jack London	Novella	Banned in schools for its dark theme and violent imagery.
Carrie	Stephen King	Novel	Banned in schools for depicting the death of teens and fundamentalism.
Catch-22	Joseph Heller	Novel	Challenged in schools for its sexual content and violent imagery.
The Catcher in the Rye	J. D. Salinger	Novel	Reasons for banning have been the use of offensive language, premarital sex, alcohol abuse, and prostitution.
Civil Disobedience	Henry David Thoreau	Essay	Removed from libraries during McCarthyism. Banned in South Africa
A Clockwork Orange	Anthony Burgess	Novel	Challenged for its depiction of rape and violence by a pre-teen.
The Communist Manifesto	Karl Marx	Economic Treaties	Banned in anti-Communist countries and the US during the Red Scare. Challenged in libraries for political reasons.
The Confessions of Nat Turner	William Styron	Historical Novel	Challenged by the NAACP for its sexual imagery of Nat Turner.

D

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Daddy's Roommate	Michael Willhoite	Novella	Banned in schools. Challenged by fundamentalists for its positive view on homosexuality.
The Diary of a Young Girl	Anne Frank	Diary	Challenged by Holocaust deniers of its historical accuracy.
Doctor Zhivago	Boris Pasternak	Novel	Banned by the USSR for its criticism of the Bolsheviks Party.

F

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Fahrenheit 451	Ray Bradbury	Sci-Fi Novel	Banned in schools for political reason and depiction of violence.
The Fellowship of the Ring	J. R. R. Tolkien	Fantasy Novel	Challenged by fundamentalists for its use of wizards and paganry. Also challenged by Atheists for its religious theme.
Fight Club	Chuck Palahniuk	Novel	Challenged for its depiction of violence and presenting underground street fighting in a positive light.
For Whom the Bell Tolls	Ernest Hemingway	Novel	Banned in Spain during Francisco rule for its pro-Republican views.

G

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
The Giver	Lois Lowry	Novel	Challenged over certain ethical issues.
Go Ask Alice	Anonymous	Novel	Banned in schools for its drug content and authenticity.
Gone with the Wind	Margaret Mitchell	Novel	Challenged by feminist groups and the NAACP for depicting the racism and rape in a positive view.
The Grapes of Wrath	John Steinbeck	Novel	Banned in schools located in southern California because of political preasure from Associated Farmers.
The Great Gatsby	F. Scott Fitzgerald	Novel	Challenged because of its adultrist theme.

H

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Hamlet	William Shakespeare	Play	Challenged by fundamentalist for its content of incest and blasphemy.
The Handmaid's Tale	Margaret Atwood	Novel	Challenged for its feminist theme and sexual content.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone	J. K. Rowling	Novel	Challenged by fundamentalists for paganry and alleged support for witchcraft.
Heart of Darkness	Joseph Conrad	Novella	Critisied by Chinua Achebe for its racist bias and negative depiction of Africans.
Heather Has Two Mommies	Lesléa Newman	Novel	Banned for its LGBT theme.
Hells Angels	Hunter S. Thompson	Investigative Journalism	Criticized by feminist for its depiction of gang rape in a positive view.
Helter Skelter	Vincent Bugliosi	True Crime	The factual accuracy has been questioned by Manson's followers and admirers.
How to Talk Dirty and Influence People	Lenny Bruce	Autobiography	Challenged by fundamentalists for its encouragement to use profanity and obscurity.

I

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings	Maya Angelou	Autobiography	Banned in schools for graphic explicit descriptions of rape and sexual content.
If I Did It	O.J. Simpson	Canceled	Canceled due to public outcry and pressure from the Goldman family.

J

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
James and the Giant Peach	Roald Dahl	Children's Novel	Challenged for its content of child abuse.
The Jungle	Upton Sinclair	Novel	Edited before its release. Challenged by the meat industry.

K

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
The King Never Smiles	Paul M. Handley	Biography	Banned in Thailand for its criticism of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
The Kingdom of God Is Within You	Leo Tolstoy	Religious Treaties	Banned in Czarist Russia for its Christian anarchist content.

L

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Lady Chatterley's Lover	D. H. Lawrence	Novel	Temporarily banned in the United States and UK until it was overturned for violation of obscurity laws. Banned in Australia.
The Last Battle	C. S. Lewis	Fantasy Novel	Challenged by Atheists for its religious theme. Challenged by Feminists for the actions of one character.
A Light in the Attic	Shel Silverstein	Poetry Collection	Banned from libraries for encouraging children to misbehave.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe	C. S. Lewis	Fantasy Novel	Criticized by Atheist for its religious theme.
Live and Let Die	Ian Fleming	Spy Novel	Criticized for its racist depiction of African-Americans and Afro-Caribbean. Edited to remove the word "Nigger".
Lolita	Vladimir Nabokov	Novel	Challenged for its content of pedophilia.

M

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
The Malay Dilemma	Mahathir bin Mohamad	Political ideology	Banned in Malaysia for its criticism of UMNO and the May 13th Incident.
The Manchurian Candidate	Richard Condon	Political Novel	Banned in Communist states for political reason. Condemned by the American Legion.
Mein Kampf	Adolf Hitler	Political ideology	Possession and sale is illegal in Germany and Austria due to anti-Nazi laws.

N

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Nickel and Dimed	Barbara Ehrenreich	Investigative Journalism	Critizised for its lack of realism related to people paid minimum wage.
Nineteen Eighty-Four	George Orwell	Sci-Fi Novel	Banned in the USSR for political reasons. Accused of anti-semitism. Challenged in Florida for pro communist and sexual theme.

O

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Of Mice and Men	John Steinbeck	Novella	Challenged and banned in schools for the use of the word "Nigger". Accused of sexism and mistreatment of people with Down syndrome.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich	Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn	Novel	Banned in the USSR for political reasons. Author was sent into exile.
The Origin of Species	Charles Darwin	Biology Text	Banned in schools and challenged by fundamentalist for questioning Creation. See: Scopes Monkey Trial
The Outsiders	S. E. Hinton	Novel	Challenged in schools for depiction of gangs and violence.

P

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Palestine Peace Not Apartheid	Jimmy Carter	Political Science	Criticized by pro-Israeli groups claiming the book is anti-semetic and for the use of the word "Apartheid"
The Pigman	Paul Zindel	Novel	Challenged in schools for sexual content and depicting teens drinking and smoking.
Private Parts	Howard Stern	Autobiography	Criticized by fundamentalists and feminists for sexual content, use of profanity, and sexism.

Q

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong	Mao Zedong	Collection	Banned in South Vietnam and anti-Communist nations in Asia.
Qur'an		Religious Text	Challenged by fundamentalist and anti-Islamic activists claiming that it promotes violence. Banned in Communist states that promote Atheism.

R

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
The Return of the King	J. R. R. Tolkien	Fantasy	Challenged by fundamentalists for its use of wizards and paganry. Also challenged by Atheists for its religious theme.
Rights of Man	Thomas Paine	Political Treatise	Banned in the UK for supporting the French Revolution. Banned in Czarist Russia after the Decembrist revolt.
Roots: The Saga of an American Family	Historical Fiction	Alex Haley	Accusations of plagiarism and historical inaccuracy.

S

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
The Satanic Verses	Salman Rushdie	Magic Realism	Banned in India and Muslim nations for blasphemy. Book stores refuse to sell it out of fear. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for the death of Rushdie.
Scary Stories	Alvin Schwartz	Collection of Horror Stories and Urban Myths	Libraries had it removed for its gruesome images.
Silent Spring	Rachel Carson	Environmentalism	Publication was delayed and has been challenged by the chemical industries.
Sixth Column	Robert A. Heinlein	Sci-Fi Novel	Criticized for its racist depiction of Asians
Slaughterhouse-Five	Kurt Vonnegut	Sci-Fi Novel	Challenged and banned in schools for sexual content and profanity.
Starship Troopers	Robert A. Heinlein	Sci-Fi Novel	Accused by critics of having a pro-militant and pro-facist theme along with elements of racism.
Stupid White Men	Michael Moore	Political Criticism	Publication delayed because of political reasons. Challenged by conservatives for its alleged liberal bias.

T

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Talmud		Religous Text	Criticized by Reform Judaism. Banned in Nazi Germany and the USSR.
That Was Then, This Is Now	S. E. Hinton	Novel	Challenged for its drug content.
Tiger Eyes	Judy Blume	Novel	Banned in schools for its theme of death.
Tintin in America	Hergé	Graphic Novel	Criticized for racial depiction of Native Americans and African Americans.
Tintin in the Congo	Hergé	Graphic Novel	Criticized for its pro-imperialist and racist depiction of Africans.
The Turner Diaries	William Luther Pierce	Novel	Book stores and libraries refuse to distribute it because of its racist theme. Banned in Germany for its Nazi ideolgy theme and Pierce leadership in the American Nazi Party. Blamed for a number of hate crimes inspired by the novel including the Oklahoma City bombing.
The Two Towers	J. R. R. Tolkien	Novel	Challenged by fundamentalists for its use of wizards and paganry. Also challenged by Atheists for its religious theme.

U

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Ulysses	James Joyce	Novel	Challenged and temproy banned in the US for its sexual content. Ban overturn in United States v. One Book Called Ulysses .
Uncle Tom's Cabin	Harriet Beecher Stowe	Novel	Banned in the Southern States and Czarist Russia. Challenged by the NAACP for its racist portrayal of African Americans and the use of the word "Nigger".
Understanding Islam through Hadis	Ram Swarup	Philosophical Treaties	Banned in India under 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code.
United States-Vietnam Relations, 1945-1967	United States Department of Defense	Report	Classified at the time it was published. Attempts were made to suspend publication. See: New York Times Co. v. United States.

W

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
We	Yevgeny Zamyatin	Novel	Banned in the USSR for political reason.
We All Fall Down	Robert Cormier	Novel	Challenged and banned in schools for sexual and violent content.
The Wealth of Nations	Adam Smith	Economic Treaties	Banned in the UK and France for criticizing Mercantilism. Banned in communist nations for its capitalist content.
Where's Waldo?	Martin Handford	Picture Book	Removed from libraries and banned from schools for breif nudity
Winds of Change	Reza Pahlavi	Political Science	Banned in Iran for political reasons.

Z

Title	Author	Type of Literature	Reason
Zweites Buch	Adolf Hitler	Transcript	Possession and sale is illegal in Germany and Austria because of anti-Nazi laws.