Margaret Atwood and her publisher, Random House, are auctioning off a fireproof version of their best-selling book, The Handmaid’s Tale, in protest against the increasing censorship of books in the U.S.
Published in 1985, the dystopian novel depicts an America controlled by religious fanatics, where women have no rights and abortion is punishable by death. Over recent years, the book has made a comeback as its themes have been compared to the legal developments of some states. The Handmaid’s Tale frequently ranks as one of the most banned books in the U.S.
As data from PEN America shows, states in the south and midwest of the country are exercising increasing control over book censorship, with 713 separate titles facing bans in Texas schools and libraries between July 2021 and April 2022. Titles to have been included on this year’s index included stories that carried a political message, as well as a high number of books that include LGBTQI+ content. The ban in schools and libraries does not mean that this literature is not available outside of these institutions.
This chart shows the U.S. states that has implemented the highest number of book bans this year.
