The Satanic Verses
The Satanic Verses
Year Published: 1989
Author: Salman Rushdie
ISBN: 0-670-82537-9
Condition: This book is in excellent condition. There are no tears in the dustcover or pages. Slight darkening of color on top end of pages.
Controversy: The satirical portrayal of Islamic figures and themes written by the author were found to be blasphemous by some Muslims particularly Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini, who ordered a fatwa that called for Rushdie's execution sending him into hiding. The pushback put the concept of free speech up against the respect for religious views.
The fatwa did not stop at Rushdie, whose Italian translator was seriously stabbed in 1991, his Japanese translator stabbed to death just three days later, his Norwegian publisher barely survived being shot in the back three times in 1993. Thirty seven people died when arsonists set fire to the Madimak Hotel in Sivas, Turkey intending to kill Turkish translator, Aziz Nesin, who managed to escape the massacre.
Rushdie himself managed to survive the fatwa until he was stabbed four times while speaking at the Chautauqua Institution. He survived the stab wounds to his abdomen and neck, but lost sight in one eye and the use of one of his hands.
Nigger Heaven
Nigger Heaven
Year Published: 1926
Author: Carl Van Vechten
Edition: January 1928, 14th Printing
Publisher: Gross & Dunlap
Condition: Overall condition is very good. The dustcover is mostly intact with some tears and staining from age. There is an inscription written in pencil on the inside first page.
ISBN: None
Controversy: The backdrop of the novel is set in Harlem, New York City's African-American community, and became controversial for its name, and the method of writing, which phonetically spelled out how the author, who was Caucasian, believed that people of color spoke in his day.
The term itself is a 19th century reference to the chuch balconies where African-Americans were segretated.
The obvious controversy is of course the name of the book, which even at the time of publication drew criticism from the public-at-large, Van Vechten's own father, several of his friends, and other noted figures of the time such as W.E.B. Du Bois, the NAACP, and author, Ralph Ellison.
Despite the controversy the novel went on to become a national bestseller.
DISCLAIMER: The Paper Dinosaur understands that the title of this book is a racial epithet and is used here only for the purposes of listing the book's title. We attach no political, ehtical, social, or other definitions to it derogatory or otherwise.
Year Published: 1966-1971
Author: Ayn Rand
Description: This boxset contains all 69 pamphlets edited by Ayn Rand.
Condition: The pamphlets are in excellent condition, and are housed in a one-of-a-kind box made specifically for them.
Controversy: The philosphies of Ayn Rand became controversial mostly due to rejection of altruism in favor of ethical egoism, which advocated that moral agents ought to act in their own self-interest.
Rand's most successful works, "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" delved deeply into philosophy, which foreshadowed many things that came to be true in later years.
Year Published: 1891
Author: Oscar Wilde
Edition: 1890s?
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Condition: The front cover of this book is detached. The condition is otherwise if good shape if not fragile due to its age.
ISBN: None
Controversy: The author, perhaps best known for his work, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," and his play, "The Importance of Being Earnest," wrote in the style of the Aestheticism movement of the day, which moved art away from teaching lessons and towards it being beautiful. His controversial life led to a trial and imprisonment for homosexual sodomy.
Year Published: 1940
Author: Oscar Wilde
Edition: 1940
Publisher: Halcyon House
Condition: The spine of this book is missing some pieces and is fragile. Overall the book is in fair shape
ISBN: None
Controversy: The author, perhaps best known for his work, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," and his play, "The Importance of Being Earnest," wrote in the style of the Aestheticism movement of the day, which moved art away from teaching lessons and towards it being beautiful. His controversial life led to a trial and imprisonment for homosexual sodomy.
My Secret Life Volumes I-XI
My Secret Life Volumes I-XI
Year Published: 1888
Author: Anonymous
Edition: 1966
Publisher: The Grove PRess
Condition: This two volume set represents the complete know works and is in excellent condition. The box for the two books has some repaired tears in the covering, but is otherwise solid.
ISBN: None
Controversy: This highly pornographic accounting of "Walter" and his sexual liaisons was written in the Victorian Era, a time painted by historians as being sexually prudish, which would have explained why the author chose to remain anonymous.
From the time it was first printed it was banned. In 1932 a New York publisher was arrested for publishing the first three volumes, and in 1969 British printer, Arthur Dobson, was sentenced to two years in prison for publishing a reprint.