In an era of control and curbs of freedom, banned books are are a hot topic, but then again, they always have been.
I find it so interesting to look back over time and read classic banned books from history, discover the reasons they were controversial in their day (or still are), and how those books have stood the test of time.
This banned books list explores 15 famously controversial works of literature that were banned, challenged, or restricted around the world, and explains the stories behind the bans.
If you love to read banned books, this guide to banned books and why they were censored is a perfect place to start, especially during Banned Books Week.
- 1. Frankenstein – Mary Shelley (1818)
- 2. Moby-Dick – Herman Melville (1851)
- 3. On the Origin of Species – Charles Darwin (1859)
- 4. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain (1884)
- 5. The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde (1891)
- 6. Ulysses – James Joyce (1922)
- 7. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley (1932)
- 8. Animal Farm – George Orwell (1945)
- 9. Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell (1949)
- 10. The Catcher in the Rye – J. D. Salinger (1951)
- 11. Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury (1953)
- 12. Lord of the Flies – William Golding (1954)
- 13. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee (1960)
- 14. A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess (1962)
- 15. The Satanic Verses – Salman Rushdie (1988)
- More Classic Banned Books
A REBEL’S READING CHALLENGE
Banned Books Journal
Discover 100 banned books from around the world, then read them yourself and write down your thoughts.
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1. Frankenstein – Mary Shelley (1818)
Victor Frankenstein creates life from dead matter, only to reject the creature he brings into existence. The abandoned being longs for companionship but is driven to violence by cruelty and isolation.
The novel explores ambition, responsibility, and what it truly means to be human.
Why it Was Banned
In the 19th century, the novel was removed from some US schools and libraries for being considered morally corrupting and for its suggestion that humans could rival God in creating life.
Religious authorities objected to its perceived challenge to divine authority and its dark portrayal of scientific experimentation.
About the Author
Mary Shelley (1797–1851) was an English novelist whose work blended Gothic horror with philosophical inquiry. Frankenstein is regarded as one of the earliest works of science fiction.
2. Moby-Dick – Herman Melville (1851)
Captain Ahab leads his whaling ship on a dangerous voyage in pursuit of the white whale that maimed him. The journey becomes an exploration of obsession, revenge, and humanity’s struggle against nature and fate.
Why it Was Banned
In the late 19th century, some American schools removed the book for what they saw as disrespectful language about God and religion.
Its dark themes and questioning of divine will were viewed as unsuitable for young readers.
About the Author
Herman Melville (1819–1891) was an American writer whose sea novels drew on his own experiences as a sailor. His work gained lasting recognition only after his death.
3. On the Origin of Species – Charles Darwin (1859)
Darwin presents his theory that species evolve over time through natural selection, challenging traditional ideas of creation and humanity’s place in nature.
Why it Was Banned
The book was banned or restricted in parts of the UK and United States for contradicting Biblical creation.
In the 20th century, it was removed from school curricula in several US states, including Tennessee during the era of anti-evolution laws, because it conflicted with religious teaching.
About the Author
Charles Darwin (1809–1882) was an English naturalist whose work laid the foundations of evolutionary biology.
4. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain (1884)
Huck Finn escapes his abusive father and travels down the Mississippi River with Jim, an enslaved man seeking freedom. Their journey exposes the cruelty and hypocrisy of a slave-owning society.
Why it Was Banned
The novel has repeatedly been banned or challenged in US schools for its use of racial slurs and depiction of slavery.
Some authorities argued it promoted racist language, while others feared it would upset or offend students.
About the Author
Mark Twain (1835–1910) was an American writer famous for his humour and sharp social criticism.
Read Next: This book is one of many banned children’s books.
5. The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde (1891)
Dorian Gray remains physically young while a hidden portrait ages and reflects his moral corruption. The story explores vanity, temptation, and the cost of living without conscience.
Why it Was Banned
When first published in Britain, the novel was condemned as immoral and indecent.
It was removed from some libraries for its suggestions of sexual excess and its coded references to homosexuality, which were illegal at the time.
About the Author
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish playwright and novelist known for his wit and tragic downfall.
6. Ulysses – James Joyce (1922)
Set over one day in Dublin, the novel follows Leopold Bloom through ordinary events portrayed in revolutionary narrative styles that mirror thought and memory.
Why it Was Banned
The book was banned in the UK and US for obscenity due to explicit sexual content and frank language.
It was illegal in the United States until a 1933 court ruling declared it a serious work of literature rather than pornography.
About the Author
James Joyce (1882–1941) was an Irish modernist whose experimental writing reshaped the novel.
7. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley (1932)
In a futuristic society, people are genetically engineered and conditioned to accept a life of pleasure and obedience. Individual freedom is sacrificed for stability.
Why it Was Banned
The novel was banned in Ireland for its sexual content and criticism of religion and family values. It has also been challenged in US schools for promoting immorality and questioning authority.
About the Author
Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) was an English writer known for dystopian and philosophical fiction.
8. Animal Farm – George Orwell (1945)
Farm animals overthrow their human owner and establish their own society, only to see power concentrated in the hooves of the pigs.
Why it Was Banned
The book was banned in the Soviet Union and other communist states because it satirised the Russian Revolution and exposed the corruption of totalitarian regimes.
About the Author
George Orwell (1903–1950) was an English novelist and journalist who wrote extensively about politics and freedom.
9. Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell (1949)
In a society ruled by constant surveillance, Winston Smith dares to think independently and challenge the official version of truth.
Why it Was Banned
The novel was banned in the Soviet Union and other authoritarian states for its anti-totalitarian message. It has also been challenged in some schools for sexual content and bleak political themes.
About the Author
Orwell’s work remains central to discussions of censorship and propaganda.
10. The Catcher in the Rye – J. D. Salinger (1951)
Holden Caulfield recounts a few days wandering New York after being expelled from school, expressing anger, confusion, and loneliness.
Why it Was Banned
The novel has been one of the most frequently banned books in the US for profanity, references to sex, and its rebellious tone, which critics feared would encourage bad behaviour among teenagers.
About the Author
J. D. Salinger (1919–2010) was an American author known for his reclusive lifestyle and focus on adolescent alienation.
11. Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury (1953)
In a future where books are burned to prevent independent thought, a fireman begins to question his role in enforcing censorship.
Why it Was Banned
Ironically, the novel itself was banned or edited in US schools for offensive language and themes that challenged authority and conformity.
About the Author
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) was an American writer famous for science fiction and cautionary tales.
12. Lord of the Flies – William Golding (1954)
A group of schoolboys stranded on an island descend into violence and chaos without adult guidance.
Why it Was Banned
The novel has been banned or restricted in schools for its graphic violence, disturbing themes, and pessimistic view of human nature.
About the Author
William Golding (1911–1993) was a British novelist and Nobel Prize winner.
13. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee (1960)
A young girl observes her father defend a Black man falsely accused of rape in the racially divided American South.
Why it Was Banned
The book has been challenged in US schools for its use of racial language and its discussion of rape and injustice, despite its anti-racist message.
About the Author
Harper Lee (1926–2016) was an American novelist whose work focused on justice and empathy.
14. A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess (1962)
Teenage criminal Alex undergoes a government experiment designed to eliminate his violent impulses by removing free will.
Why it Was Banned
The novel was banned in the UK for a period after its release and later restricted in schools for graphic violence and disturbing moral questions.
About the Author
Anthony Burgess (1917–1993) was an English writer and composer known for inventive language.
15. The Satanic Verses – Salman Rushdie (1988)
A surreal story blending migration, faith, and identity, using dreamlike transformations and religious symbolism.
Why it Was Banned
The novel was banned in several Muslim-majority countries, including Iran and India, for being considered blasphemous. Its publication led to international controversy and threats against the author.
About the Author
Salman Rushdie (born 1947) is a British-Indian novelist whose work often combines myth, history, and politics.
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More Classic Banned Books
This classic banned books collection shows how often societies try to silence stories that question authority or expose injustice.
Each title on this banned books list has survived attempts to suppress it, proving the enduring power of literature.
Whether you want to read banned books out of curiosity or principle, these novels reveal much about fear, freedom, and expression.
During Banned Books Week, or any time of year, choosing one of these best banned books is a powerful way to defend the right to read, and to think for yourself.
Did I miss one of your favourite banned books? Let me know your recommendations in the comments below.
Fantastic Books & Where to Find Them
For more of what to read where, check out my full Travel Books Guide, filled with book recommendations for different destinations, the most beautiful bookstores around the world, tips on how to get the best deals on audiobooks and e-books, as well as more literary travel.
