Fanny Hill
by John Cleland
Censorship Status
Banned in UK, USA, Australia
Reason: Sexual content, prostitution themes
An 18th-century erotic novel about a young woman's sexual awakening.
Why Fanny Hill Was Banned
Censorship Concerns
This book was banned for challenging established norms and authority.
Specifically, Fanny Hill was targeted for: Sexual content, prostitution themes. The book's themes and content were deemed threatening to the social, political, or religious order in multiple countries.
Why Read Fanny Hill Today?
- ✓ Historical Significance: Understand why this book was considered dangerous enough to ban.
- ✓ Intellectual Freedom: Support the right to read diverse perspectives and challenging ideas.
- ✓ Critical Thinking: Engage with ideas that authorities didn't want people to consider.
- ✓ Cultural Understanding: Gain insight into the fears and concerns of different societies and eras.
Other Banned Books You Might Like
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
This Pulitzer Prize winner has been removed from required reading lists by progressive school districts in California, Minnesota, and Mississippi. Left-leaning educators argue that despite its anti-racist message, the book centers white characters in Black stories and its frequent use of the N-word can be harmful to Black students. Unlike Republican bans, these removals come from a desire to de-center whiteness in discussions of racism.
Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck's Depression-era classic has been removed from multiple progressive school districts including in California and Washington for its use of racial slurs and problematic depictions of Black characters. Progressive educators argue that while historically important, the book's language can cause harm to students of color and its portrayal of disability is outdated.
The Bible
by Various
The ultimate irony: the world's most beloved book is also among the most banned. Communist governments from the Soviet Union to modern China have suppressed the Bible not because they feared its religious message, but because they understood its revolutionary power. This collection of ancient texts has toppled empires, inspired revolutions, and challenged every form of earthly authority for over two millennia. Its message that all humans are created equal and accountable to a higher power than government makes it inherently subversive to totalitarian regimes. When dictators ban the Bible, they're not attacking religion—they're defending their monopoly on truth.
Don't Let This Story Be Silenced
Support intellectual freedom by reading the books that challenged the powerful. Get your copy of Fanny Hill today and discover why it's still being banned.
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