Banned Books Around the World
As Banned Books Week comes to a close, we shift our gaze upon the censorship of authors on an international scale. Below is a list of 17 books that have been banned in the last decade. The original version of this list can be found in WLT's censorship issue published in September 2006.
Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007), banned in several U.S. states.
Paulo Coelho (Brazil), O Zahir (2005; Eng. The Zahir, 2005), banned in Iran
Duong Thu Huong, Chon vang (Eng. No Man's Land, 2005), banned in Vietnam [see review in the September 2006 issue of WLT.]
Shirin Ebadi, Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope (2006), banned in Iran [winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003]
Nuruddin Farah, From a Crooked Rib (1970, 2006), banned in Somalia
Ismail Kadare, Pasardhësi (2003; Eng. The Successor, 2005), banned in Albania
Joseph Lelyveld, Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India (2011), banned in India
Lung Ying-tai, Da Jiang Da Hai 1949 (2009; Big River, Big Sea — Untold Stories of 1949, 2009), banned in China
Ma Jian, Stick Out Your Tongue (2006), banned in China [see review in the September 2006 issue of WLT.]
Mian Mian, Tang (2000; Eng. Candy, 2003), banned in China
Pierre Mujomba, La dernière enveloppe (2003; The last envelope), banned in Congo
Taslima Nasrin, Shei Shab Andhakar (2004; All that darkness), banned in Bangladesh
Stanley Park (England), FIFA 192: The True Story Behind the Legend of the Brunei National Football Team (2004), banned in Brunei
Raúl Rivero, Vida y oficios: Los poemas de la cárcel (2006), banned in Cuba
Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Cerita dari Blora (1963; Eng. All That Is Gone, 2004), banned in Indonesia [see review in the September 2006 issue of WLT.]
Yan Lianke, Serve the People! (2006), banned in China
Müslüm Yücel, Kina ve ayna (2003; Henna and mirror), banned in Turkey
