Article Post
Sep 15 2022
DK’s 'Banned Books' Profiles the Most Controversial Texts Throughout History
While censorship of one form or another has always plagued society as the definitions of what is “acceptable” in published works have shifted over time and all over the world, book bans and challenges in the US have doubled between 2020 and 2021, according to the American Library Association.
This surge in challenged books is in line with an escalation in censorship that sees content focusing on race, sexuality, and gender identity put at risk in public schools and libraries. This is a terrifying development that removes access to these important works from anyone who can’t afford to purchase them, or anyone who struggles to find acceptance within their home and looks to books to find that acceptance.
Out now is DK’s Banned Books, which delves into why some of the most famous books in history were once deemed too controversial for public consumption and profiles a selection of the most infamous, intriguing, and controversial books ever written. It is an exploration of the history of banned books, offering informative insights into society, politics, law, and religious beliefs through time and around the world.
From the banning of All Quiet on the Western Front and the repeated
suppression of On the Origin of Species, to the uproar provoked by Lady Chatterley’s Lover, entries offer a fascinating chronological account of censorship, and shed light on the astonishing role that some banned books have played in changing history.
As a company, Penguin Random House is committed to protecting free expression and the right to read. As a division of Penguin Random House, DK is proud to stand with the rest of the company and is also a proud partner of ALA’s Unite Against Book Bans.