Ten controversial books
Animal Farm (1945): This political novel by George Orwell had not gone down well with the Allied forces during Second World War. Allied forces found this entire book to be critical of the USSR and therefore the text was considered to be too controversial to print during wartime.
The Da Vinci Code (2003): The novel by Dan Brown was banned in Lebanon after Catholic leaders deemed it offensive to Christianity.
Doctor Zhivago (1957): Authored by Boris Pasternak, the novel was banned within the U.S.S.R until 1988 for its criticism of the Bolshevik Party
Lajja (1993): Written by Taslima Nasreen, is banned in Bangladesh and few states of India. The book highlighted the plight of the Bangladeshi Hindu community in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition. She had to endure the wrath of the fundamentalists.
Lolita (1955): The novel by Vladimir Nabokov was banned in France, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa. Critics claim that the book contains obscene contents. In the story, the central character happens to fall in love with a twelve year old girl. Issues like Pedophilia cropped up at the time of the book’s release.
Lady’s Chatterly’s Lover (1928): Authored by D.H. Lawrence, this book was temporarily banned in the United States and the United Kingdom for violation of obscenity laws; both bans were lifted in 1959 and 1960, respectively.
Mein Kampf (1925): The controversial work by Adolf Hitler, was banned in several European countries. The book portrays the Jews in a bad light. The author had credited the Jews to be the genesis of all of world’s problems and miseries.
The Diary of a Young Girl (1947): This biography by Anne Frank was banned in Lebanon for portraying Jews, Israel or Zionism favorably.
Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland (1865): The Lewis Carroll masterpiece was banned in the province of Hunan, China for depicting anthromorphised animals, showing the same level of complexity as that of human being.
The Satanic Verses (1988): The Booker nominated work by Salman Rushdie, was banned in the following countries for alleged blasphemy against Islam: Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand.
Recent controversies: Such a long Journey by Rohinton Mistry and Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India by Joseph Lelyveld
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