Banned & Challenged Books
Challenged books are those that have been requested to be removed from public access; typically in libraries and schools. Those that lobby against certain books range from religious organization, to community groups and even the media. Most commonly books are challenged due to racial, sexual or offensive (such as language) content.
For more information on banned books please visits the American Library Association at:
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks
And for a long list of Challenged Books see the following Wikipedia page at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_commonly_challenged_books_in_the_United_States
Some titles may surprise you such as Harry Potter which was attacked for promoting witchcraft.
Now without further ado, here are 12 “banned and challenged” books you can download for free directly from us. Enjoy!
Moby Dick
Herman Melville | Fiction Classics
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Moby Dick was apparently challenged as it conflicted with “community values” including the “killing of wales, the selling of human heads, and the death of many sailors.”
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain | Children's Classics
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Probably one of the most famous controversial books, critics attacked the racial undertones found throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
The Call of the Wild
Jack London | Fiction Classics
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The Call of the Wild was seen as extremely violent, especially for its time, and was banned in a number of countries.
The Great Gatsby
Francis Scott Fitzgerald | Fiction Classics
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The main issues here dealt with the lifestyles lead by the principal characters which included alcohol consumption, sexual innuendos and so forth.
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne | Fiction Classics
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Another case surrounding conflicts with “community values” including the actions of the main character. Sexual references also lead to its banning at the time.
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe | Fiction Classics
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Much like Huckleberry Finn, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is surrounded in racial controversy.
The Jungle
Upton Sinclair | Sci-Fi Classics
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The socialist undertones in Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle were seems as “dangerous” from a number of countries.
Sons and Lovers
D. H. Lawrence | Fiction Classics
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It’s hard to know exactly why Sons and Lovers was banned, but most say it was due to “obscenity,” though exactly what made it obscene is tough to pinpoint.
Ulysses
James Joyce | Fiction Classics
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This novel was published as a series over 2 years in the American Journal The Little Review. A number of episodes caused a stir both in the USA and the UK for various reasons, but perhaps most notably for one scene in which the main character is believed to be masturbating.
Women in Love
D. H. Lawrence | Romance Classics
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Similar to Sons and Lovers, DH. Lawrence’s Women In Love was attacked due to its sexual content.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain | Children's Classics
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Like Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer was challenged for including coarse language and racial stereotypes.
On the Origin of Species
Charles Darwin | Science (Academic)
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One of the most famous cases of a banned book. In 1925 its teachings were banned in the state of Tennessee and remained so until 1967. Reasons: contradictory to the religious views of the time.
