Most Controversial Books Of All Times

Some books just happen to get stuck in our head, they have that sort of magnetic pull. These books also earn a lot of recognition for being a ‘classic’. Classic stands for any book written in the past that didn’t just impact its readers but had a huge impact on the era they were written in. Now, the fun thing is that there are so many classics that had spiked controversy when they first released.

1. ‘The Harry Potter Series’ by JK Rowling

We all know the story about how JK Rowling got the idea for the first Harry Potter book while waiting for a train. The series based on wizards and witches had many religious groups and parents concerned, as they believed that it would initiate children to take up witchcraft and try some magical moves at home.  Alas! 7 more books were released of the series

2. ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ by George Orwell

Books are a work of fiction. This book is set in a dystopian world in 1984, whilst it was written in 1949. In the book, Big Brother dominates the world and it is an unsafe space for all, especially those who wish to live their life according to themselves. The book spiked the controversy for being unnatural and intense. But any fictional book would be unnatural if you think about it? The book still remains under the reign of controversy.

3. ‘Lolita’ by Vladimir Nabokov

Anything that is forbidden is controversial. The book was about a middle-aged man who desires and eventually pursues his 12-year old stepdaughter sexually. Though her name is Dolores Haze, he calls her Lolita privately. Even the name Lolita, does strike an extra chord in our head and we know that somewhere even the name is forbidden. The book still manages to shock everyone around, considering the theme is so controversial.

4. ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte

Published back in 1847, in a time when women had no identity. Charlotte Bronte wrote this book under a pen name “Currer Bell” and was a big hit, till people got to know it was actually ‘her’ who had written the book. The book was then labeled as being a “naughty book”.

5. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D. Salinger

Rebelling is a form of expression signature of the teen years. So the book originally written for adults became very famous with the teens as it discussed topics like sense of belonging, anxiety and identity loss. The book has been on the 10^th position of ‘the hundred most frequently challenged books: 1990-1999’, because of the protagonist’s use of vulgar language and questionable ethics in the story.

6.  ‘The Well of Loneliness’ by Radclyffe Hall

Written in a time where love was a struggle, homosexuality was considered a sin. The book sparked controversy as the writer portrayed lesbian love to be normal and natural. Both the female characters in the book face social seclusion because of their desire to love each other.