Column Chronicles: Strange books banned

Strange books banned

Frank Cotolo
April 16, 2026

There are many books in the history of book publishing that were banned for moral reasons of their times. A lesser reason for banning books was the public's outrage for absurd contents that could be interpreted to cause violent social upheaval. Here is a list about some:

In 1834 Ripley Wazzoo's "Wither Thy Underbelly" was banned when readers complained it encouraged people to harm the part of their bodies in the title. "It is neither poetry or prose," wrote one critic. Another review mentioned "the theme and the focus on a part of ourselves we all adore is a sin."

Taken from bookstore shelves in 1917 was "Argot Stack All Dumb Trees" by Will Knot. It was doomed by its opening lines which prompted readers to dismantle their bicycles: "Wrecks and stillborns delude themselves by stinking up the trampolines where lovers bounce."

Although Sheila Wheelah's "Krushoid Love" was filled with explicit sex not accepted in 1950, it was the following passage that got it banned: "I don't know but maybe women should hit men back."

"Revolt of the Unprepared" by D.A. Dee Aletter never wrote another book after this one was banned in 1963 when it lost a court case claiming if read upside down it promoted public schools to allow students to dress like Pope Paul VI.

"Scrub The Oraface or How I Learned to Nip Things in the Bud," by Avory Ivory was banned in 1988 by its own publishing company. Neptune Press released the book thinking it was another book. Neptune sued the printer and then published the book they meant to publish: "Tuesday In Michigan Is Wednesday in Rome" by Ed Ordinary; he became famous when he commited suicide rather than return to being a cobbler when the book failed.

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.