Classic Books for Banned Book Week
Banned Book Week is an annual event celebrated in the United States. During this week, authors, librarians, publishers, and readers come together to share a list of classic books that have faced censorship throughout history, stressing the need for open access to information and the power of free expression. These books have overcome attempts to silence them, inspiring readers to explore them and discuss ideas that support freedom of thought. Join us as we dive into this list of banned or challenged classic books, exploring their enduring significance despite attempts to restrict them.
Women in Love
by D H Lawrence
Women in Love is D.H Lawrence's sequel to The Rainbow, and is widely considered by critics to be Lawrence's best novel. It tells the story of the young Brangwen sisters and
their struggles with relationships and power during the time leading up to the
first world war. Though controversial for its depictions of sexuality and the destructive
power of some relationships, Women in Love is considered one of the best
examples of twentieth century English literature ever written.
Ulysses
by James Joyce
Ulysses depicts a day in Leopold Bloom's life, broken into episodes analogous to Homer's Odyssey and related in rich, varied styles. Joyce's novel is celebrated for its depth of learning, earthy humor, literary allusions and piercing insight into the human heart.
First published in Paris in 1922 Ulysses was not published in the United States until 1934. Immediately recognized as an extraordinary work that both echoed the history of English literature and took it in new, unheralded directions, Joyce's book was controversial. Its widespread release was initially slowed by censors nitpicking a few passages. The novel is challenging, in that it is an uncommon reader who will perceive all that Joyce has put into his pages upon first reading, but it is uniquely rewarding for anyone willing to follow where the author leads. Far more than a learned exercise in literary skill, Ulysses displays a sense of humor that ranges from delicate to roguish as well as sequences of striking beauty and emotion. Chief among the latter must be the novel's climactic stream of consciousness step into the mind of the protagonist's wife, Molly Bloom, whose open-hearted acceptance of life and love is among the most memorable and moving passages in English literature.
Sons and Lovers
by D H Lawrence
When Gertrude Coppard, a refined young woman, meets Walter Morel, a rough coalminer, at a Christmas party dance, they feel immediately drawn to each other. After a short romance defined by physical attraction, the couple decide to marry. However, Gertrude soon realizes the financial difficulties of trying to survive off of Walter's measly salary. These troubles quickly cause the two to fight and grow apart. Walter begins to drink the little money they have away, retreating to a bar every night.
Once he becomes abusive, Gertrude becomes dedicated to ensuring that her children do not turn out like their father, and decides to reinvest her love into her two sons, William and Paul. Her oldest, William, is her favorite, and her love is reciprocated; William is only willing to be separated from her when he begins a new job in London, rising from his poor social class. When Paul, Gertrude's youngest, suffers from pneumonia, she realizes how much she cares for him as well. Unlike William, Paul feels smothered by his mother's attention, growing complex emotions about her. Both drawn to and disgusted by Gertrude, Paul decides to venture out and find love. When Paul meets Miriam, a smart and kind farmer's daughter, he feels that they are a great match. Gertrude, however, does not approve.
The Great Gatsby
by F Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby (1925) is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Published at the height of Fitzgerald's career as a leading writer of American fiction, The Great Gatsby was reviewed poorly by contemporary critics, but has since been recognized as a groundbreaking work for its vision of American decadence and decay. Adapted into several influential films and adored by generations of readers and writers, The Great Gatsby is not only Fitzgerald's crowning achievement, but one of the finest novels ever written. Nick Carraway is a young veteran and Yale graduate who moves to New York in search of work.
He rents a bungalow on Long Island next door to the extravagant mansion of Jay Gatsby, a magnanimous millionaire with a mysterious past. There, he reconnects with his distant cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan, a flagrant philanderer who brings Nick to the city in order to spend time with Myrtle, his impoverished mistress. Soon, he receives an invitation to a party at the Gatsby mansion, where he gets terribly drunk and meets his neighbor, who swears they served together in the Great War.
The Call of the Wild
by Jack London
Forced to endure the harsh climate of the Yukon backcountry, Buck becomes progressively more savage in an effort to stay alive among the other dogs in the pack. Relying on primal instincts, Buck emerges as an intimidating and fearless leader in the wild.
Jack London's most famous tale is a stark reminder of how important it is to trust one's instincts. Though examined through the eyes of a dog, The Call of The Wild is a tale far greater than that of a life lived on four paws. London's intention is clear: When faced with dire and inhumane conditions, there is nothing left to do but revert to a wild state fight to stay alive.
The Awakening
by Kate Chopin
First appearing in 1899 The Awakening is regarded as work presaging both feminist fiction and literary modernism. The author's clear vision of a woman's internal and external conflicts continue to demand engagement and response from readers.
The Awakening follows Edna Pontellier as she recognizes and attempts to deal with her confining lot as a woman and mother in the 19th century American South. Torn between traditional roles and an inchoate desire for independence and a more passionate life, she faces more than one difficult choice, leading to a grim reckoning. Initially receiving a mixed critical reception, including much condemnation for its frank depiction of adultery, the novel has gone on to be recognized as both a classic piece of fiction and a groundbreaking work of women's realism. The poignant portrayal of the protagonist attempting to determine her true feminine identity makes this one of the first novels willing to openly confront women's issues, to make clear that traditional roles could be limiting and to legitimatize an emotional life that transcended society's boundaries.
An American Tragedy
by Theodore Dreiser
An American Tragedy (1925) is a novel by Theodore Dreiser. Written and rewritten over a number of years, An American Tragedy is a weighty epic with a cleareyed vision of the decay at the heart of industrialized society. Based on the murder of Grace Brown in 1906, the novel proved controversial for its depiction of depravity and violence, but has endured as a classic of naturalist fiction and remains a powerful example of social critique nearly a century after its publication. A young Midwesterner bucks against his puritan upbringing, drinking with acquaintances and frequenting prostitutes when he isn't busy working any number of thankless jobs.
As friends and lovers come and go, he fails to find footing in a society fueled by ambition and cunning. Forced to flee Kansas City after a deadly auto accident, Clyde moves to Chicago before settling in Lycurgus, New York, where he meets a young farmgirl named Roberta Allen. When she becomes pregnant, Clyde begins to feel his dreams of freedom fade, and longs for a way out of marriage. Desperate and confused, he turns to a beautiful socialite named Sondra Finchley, the daughter of a local factory owner. Clyde knows what he should do-marry Roberta, settle down, raise a family-but his reckless ways refuse to remain in the past. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain
True to its name, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an adventure-packed story about a young boy living in a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River. Written by the ionic American author Mark Twain, this coming-of-age classic has been revered since its publication in the late 19th century.
Tom Sawyer has a nose for mischief. Growing up with his Aunt Polly and half-brother Sid, Tom has a way of looking for trouble. When young Tom Sawyer and his buddy Huckleberry Finn sneak out to the graveyard at midnight for what they deem to be good fun, what they don't expect is to witness a trio of body snatchers robbing a grave...and the consequences thereafter proving to be potentially catastrophic. Corralled by the limits of his small town, Tom Sawyer seeks a life that is unencumbered by rules and curfews. Alongside his buddy, Huck Finn, the duo make their way through what becomes an adventure of a lifetime, and one laden with secret hidden treasure.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain
After a life-changing adventure with his comrade, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, "Huck," as he's known, must figure out how to deal with his new life in the aftermath of finding a significant amount of money along the banks of the Mississippi River. Protecting what's rightfully his, Huck keeps the money in a trust, tucked away from his drunken father. With the weight of numerous county judges siding with the responsibility of Huck's father in securing the money, Huck fears his life of independence has been hopelessly squandered.
Forced to endure confinement and relentless abuse, Huck takes matters into his own hands, leading him on the adventure, and a new friendship of a lifetime. Scared, lonely, and fiercely independent, Huck Finn must learn that in order to survive he must become comfortable with the uncomfortable. Huck must learn to trust those around him, and most importantly, to be brave in the face of extreme hardship.