Read Banned Books | Banned Books Week UK 2026
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"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world" John Keating, Dead Poets Society [1989]
Words are powerful, books are powerful; it makes sense then, that the people who are most desperate to maintain power and control would feel threatened by books.
Book censorship and book banning has existed for hundreds if not thousands of years, a tactic used by governments, authorities, and institutions to control information, prevent rebellion, and rewrite history. One of the earliest recorded instances of this kind of censorship was in 259–210 B.C, when Chinese emperor Shih Huang Ti burned all the books in his kingdom, retaining only a single copy of each for the Royal Library - all of which were destroyed before his death. His belief was that if all historical records were destroyed, history could be said to begin with him.
Since then, book burning, censorship, and book banning has occurred all over the world - by Emperors and Caliphs in Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Egypt. By religious fanatics in 1400s Italy. By the Roman Catholic Church. By Kings and Queens of England. By the Nazi Government in Germany. By the Soviet Union. By schools and public libraries in America. By Serbian Troops in Bosnia. By the British Government. By the US Government. And many, many more.
Since then, book burning, censorship, and book banning has occurred all over the world - by Emperors and Caliphs in Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Egypt. By religious fanatics in 1400s Italy. By the Roman Catholic Church. By Kings and Queens of England. By the Nazi Government in Germany. By the Soviet Union. By schools and public libraries in America. By Serbian Troops in Bosnia. By the British Government. By the US Government. And many, many more.
But why are books so threatening to people, to institutions? Books contain knowledge, knowledge is power, and knowledge is a threat to anyone who wants to take or remain in control. The reasons given for these historical instances of book burning, banning, and censorship vary, but all in some way aim to maintain power and control over thoughts and ideas within a kingdom, country, society, or institution.
You may think that book banning is on the decline, that in the year 2026 surely governments and institutions aren’t censoring ideas and limiting knowledge. You may think book banning is most common in US schools, and couldn’t possibly happen here in the UK - but book banning is on the rise around the world and closer to home.
As recently as 2023, the Department for Education under the Conservative Government (led by Rishi Sunak, at the time) proposed guidance for school libraries, suggesting that they ‘should not include materials with “contested ideology”’ - a proposal that would disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ literature. And even more recently, in 2026 a school in Salford, England removed nearly 200 books from the school library and accused the librarian of “introducing inappropriate material into the school library”, initiating safeguarding procedures and ultimately causing her resignation.
As recently as 2023, the Department for Education under the Conservative Government (led by Rishi Sunak, at the time) proposed guidance for school libraries, suggesting that they ‘should not include materials with “contested ideology”’ - a proposal that would disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ literature. And even more recently, in 2026 a school in Salford, England removed nearly 200 books from the school library and accused the librarian of “introducing inappropriate material into the school library”, initiating safeguarding procedures and ultimately causing her resignation.
Book banning and censorship is a topic far bigger than I am able to express in a simple blog post, but hopefully this serves as a foundation for you to do your own reading and research.
Access to books and the ability to read and understand them is so important, in fact it is vital to our freedom. That’s why things like Banned Books Week exist. The theme for Banned Books Week 2026 is “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” I’ll be taking part by sharing more information and raising awareness about banned books, and encouraging you to seek out books that are challenged by these powerful institutions and people who don’t want you to know too much…
Access to books and the ability to read and understand them is so important, in fact it is vital to our freedom. That’s why things like Banned Books Week exist. The theme for Banned Books Week 2026 is “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” I’ll be taking part by sharing more information and raising awareness about banned books, and encouraging you to seek out books that are challenged by these powerful institutions and people who don’t want you to know too much…
I’d love for you to join me later this month for Banned Books Week, and as you may know our book club’s November theme is banned books - so perhaps the knowledge you find this month will help inform our discussion in November and inspire you to continue reading banned and challenged books throughout the year.
Keep reading. Keep sharing knowledge.