10 Banned Classic Books

Published on 20 April 2023 at 13:29
Book bans have been hot topics in the news in recent years as communities challenge books discussing race, police brutality, sexual orientation, and gender identity. However, books have been banned or challenged in the United States for many years. Interestingly, the reasons behind book bans have not changed much.
 
If you live in an area that had been heavily impacted by the current book bans, it can be difficult to find certain books at your local or school library. Online libraries are a solution for this, however, most of the free, online libraries focus on classic Western literature.
 
That's OK, though. Many books now considered classic literature were once banned. In the list below, you'll find 10 classic books that were once banned and the online libraries where you can read them.

Image Description: An assortment of second-hand hardcover and paperback books are stacked in a disorganized manner.

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10 Banned Classics to Read

 

  1. Animal Farm (George Orwell): Banned for it's political theory, Animal Farm critiques authoritarianism and absolute power. It has been accused of being Communist propaganda and sedition. Read Animal Farm for free through Project Gutenburg Australia, listen to the free audiobook courtesy of the Internet Archive, or buy it on Amazon.
  2. Brideshead Revisited (Evelyn Waugh): Banned for its inclusion of gay characters and relationships despite calling homosexuality sinful, the book was banned to prevent discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in schools. While it's gay representation is negative, any open, literary discussion of homosexuality was rare at the time. You can find it for free on Project Gutenburg Canada, listen to it on Learn Out Loud, or buy it from Good Reads.
  3. Native Son (Richard Wright): Banned for profane language and descriptions of violence and sex, Native Son points to the responsibility of White American society for the oppression experienced by Black Americans. You can find it for free through the Internet Archive or buy it on Amazon.
  4. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Ken Kesey): Communities that banned this book feared that its descriptions of violence, torture, bestiality, illegal actions, and sexuality - among other things - would corrupt young readers. You can read this book about mental health and psychiatric care on the Internet Archive, listen to it on AudioBookLabs, or buy it from Penguin Random House. Take note, it does not paint a pretty picture of mental healthcare, but it does make important commentary on individuality and conformity.
  5. Slaughterhouse Five (Kurt Vonnegut): People who call for the ban of this book consider it unpatriotic and are uncomfortable with its descriptions of sexual intercourse and mentions of gay sexual orientation. Read it for free on the Internet Archive, listen to the audiobook hosted by Internet Archive, or buy it on Amazon.
  6. Song of Solomon (Toni Morrison): Considered controversial for its discussion of racism and descriptions of sex, this is one of Toni Morrison's most famous books. You can find the ebook on Open Library, listen to it on Learn Out Loud, or buy it from Barnes and Noble.
  7. The Awakening (Kate Chopin): Considered scandalous for its feminist themes, this book promotes freedoms for women and depicts a woman who is dissatisfied with gendered roles and expectations. Read it on Open Library, listen to it on LibriVox, or buy it on Amazon.
  8. The Catcher in the Rye (JD Salinger): Challenged on many occasions for profanity and sexual references, this book continues to be taught in many classrooms because it's story is relatable for many high schoolers. Find the book on the Internet Archive, listen to it on AudioBookLabs, or buy it from Amazon.
  9. The Color Purple (Alice Walker): There are many reasons that this book has been challenged, including homosexual references, African history, and scenes that include sex, among other reasons. Read this book for free on the Internet Archive, find the free audiobook on Learn Out Loud, or buy it on Amazon. Learn about Alice Walker on her website.
  10. The Jungle (Upton Sinclair): Banned on rare occasions for its socialist leanings, this book is a literary protest to the unethical working conditions in the meatpacking industry. Read The Jungle for free on the Internet Archive, listen to the free audiobook on LibriVox, or buy it from Good Reads.

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