Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 08-31-2002, 11:58 AM

Banned Books Week will be celebrated September 21�28 this year.

Get ready by reading up on Mark Twain, whose Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Eve's Diary were all banned in his lifetime, and who had some of his works suppressed after his death because of his controversial religious views.

When the Booklyn Public Library removed Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn from the children's section, one of the librarians wrote to Twain in protest, and received this classic reply:

Quote:

Dear Sir, -- I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn for adults exclusively, & it always distresses me when I find that boys & girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, & to this day I cherish an unappeasable bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean, sweet breath again this side of the grave. Ask that young lady -- she will tell you so.

Most honestly do I wish that I could say a softening word or two in defense of Huck's character since you wish it, but really, in my opinion, it is no better than those of Solomon, David, & the rest of the sacred brotherhood.

If there is an unexpurgated in the Children's Department, won't you please help that young woman remove Tom & Huck from that questionable companionship?

Sincerely yours,
S. L. Clemens.

I shall not show your letter to any one -- it is safe with me.

<a href="http://www.boondocksnet.com/twainwww/banned_books.html" target="_blank">Banned Books and Censorship</a>

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.