Read Up on Banned Books with Bloom’s Literature

You’ve no doubt heard about it in the news: a massive uptick in book challenges in institutions nationwide. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked more than 1,269 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2022 alone—an unprecedented amount compared to previous years. But why? And what books were banned in the past?

One cannot discuss the history of great literature without discussing efforts to ban or restrict the reading of more controversial works. Bloom’s Literature, our award-winning literature database, gives students and researchers the content they need most—including articles on the history of book censorship, must-reads for Banned Books Week. 

Learn the History of Banned Books

The works covered in these articles include renowned classics like The Great Gatsby, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Bluest Eye, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl as well as newer works such as Maus I and II, The Hate U Give, and Thirteen Reasons Why. For many of these titles, readers will also find a wide range of related reference essays and scholarly criticism as well, helping students and researchers understand them in a broader context. 

In addition to the articles on the history of censorship, Bloom’s Literature also features:

• The full contents of more than 1,000 classic works of literature—many selected from Bloom’s Literary Canon—including the essential works of the most important authors in world history and literature
• A wealth of content on the finest contemporary and classic writers from around the world
• Reference essays from Facts On File’s extensive collection, Harold Bloom’s acclaimed writing, and many thousands of critical essays by other major critics from the Bloom’s imprint
• More than 10,000 topics providing research and writing suggestions on a range of literary topics.

What is Bloom’s Literature?

Bloom’s Literature is a multimedia solution that enriches literature studies with overviews, criticism, author biographies, and background context. Support diverse learners with audio and video content, build critical-thinking skills, and connect literature to the real world.