Books, in all their forms, hold the power to reshape societies, challenge norms, and incite action. But with that power comes risk—both for the writers who dare to put these ideas into words and for the publishers who amplify those voices. Whether through political suppression, erasure, or exploitation, the histories of many authors and publishers have been marked by disappearances, whether literal or figurative. Books may not kill, but they can certainly make both authors and publishers vanish from the narrative.
When Books Kill
These are works that have either led to the persecution of their authors, influenced deadly events, or were themselves so dangerous to the established powers that reading or distributing them could result in death. Here are books that have had fatal consequences or stirred up such powerful reactions that people have been killed for reading, writing, or disseminating them:
The Works of Confucius (Under Emperor Qin Shi Huang)
In ancient China, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered the burning of Confucian texts and the burial of scholars alive during the Qin Dynasty’s efforts to suppress intellectual discourse that contradicted his absolute rule. Thousands were executed or persecuted for their adherence to Confucian teachings.
Confucianism promotes the veneration of ancestors and emphasises human-centered virtues as a way to lead a harmonious life. Practices of ancestor worship may involve keeping a household shrine dedicated to deceased family members, offerings food, drink, flowers, or incense at their burial place.
The Bible (Various Translations)
The Bible holds the record for being the most prohibited and censored book in history.
Different versions of the Bible, particularly early translations into local languages, have led to executions. William Tyndale, who translated The Bible into English in the 16th century, was executed for heresy by strangulation and then burned at the stake. Owning or reading a translated Bible without permission could have deadly consequences in different times in different places and for different reasons.
Currently, several Islamic nations prohibit or greatly limit the ownership of The Bible, especially for their Muslim citizens. These countries include Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Somalia, and Yemen.
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli (1532)
In The Prince, Machiavelli provided strategies for rulers to retain power through any means necessary, such as deception, manipulation, and cruelty or other unethical practices, but these actions enable them to govern effectively. At times, Machiavelli even argues that achieving power through immoral means is more beneficial for the community as immorality can be more practical than morality. While not directly advocating for executions, his work has been used by tyrants to justify oppressive rule and power-driven conflicts.
De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium by Nicolaus Copernicus (1543)
Copernicus's heliocentric model of the universe, which positioned the sun at the center in contrast to the Church's geocentric perspective, was considered risky. Although Copernicus escaped punishment, Italian scientist Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake in Rome by the Catholic Church in 1600 for supporting the Copernican theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
The Quran (During Inquisition and Other Historical Events)
In times of religious conflict, during the Spanish Inquisition for example, Muslims and Jews who were caught possessing the Quran could be executed after suffering long drawn out tortures. Similar persecution has occurred in other periods where religious texts clashed with dominant religious or political ideologies.
Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems by Galileo Galilei (1632)
Galileo’s defense of Copernican heliocentrism led to his trial and house arrest by the Roman Catholic Church. Although Galileo himself was not executed, others who aligned with his ideas faced persecution, and his book was banned for over 200 years and considered dangerous to the Church’s doctrine.
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1852)
This anti-slavery novel galvanised the abolitionist movement in the United States. Though it is not directly linked to deaths, it exacerbated tensions between the North and South, contributing to the Civil War - a conflict that claimed over 600,000 lives.
Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal (1887)
This novel, by Filipino national hero José Rizal, exposed the injustices under Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. Rizal’s writings were considered so dangerous by the Spanish government that they led to his execution by firing squad in1896.
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (Early 20th Century)
This fabricated antisemitic text purported to reveal a Jewish conspiracy to dominate the world. Though completely false, it has been used to justify persecution, pogroms, and violence against Jews, most notably by Nazi Germany, contributing to the Holocaust.
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (1848)
The ideas in The Communist Manifesto inspired revolutions across the globe, including the Russian Revolution of 1917. While Marx’s intention was to inspire working-class revolutions, many of the regimes that followed Marxist ideology, such as Stalin’s Soviet Union and Mao’s China, were responsible for millions of deaths through purges, famines, and political repression.
The Black Diaries (1916)
The Black Diaries are a set of journals purportedly written by Sir Roger Casement (1864 - 1916), an Irish nationalist and British diplomat who was instrumental in exposing atrocities committed in the Congo Free State and in Peru. However, Casement is best known for his role in the Irish independence movement, for which he was executed in 1916 after being convicted of treason following his involvement in the Easter Rising.
The controversy around the Black Diaries stems from their content and the circumstances under which they were used. These diaries allegedly document Casement’s homosexual encounters and were used by the British government to discredit him during his trial for treason. The diaries were particularly controversial because homosexuality was both illegal and highly stigmatized at the time. The British authorities leaked the diaries to undermine support for Casement, especially from prominent figures who might have advocated for clemency.
Sir Roger Casement, was famously "hanged on a comma" in 1916. His conviction for treason rested on the interpretation of a medieval law where the placement of a comma changed everything. The law stated that treason occurred "in the King's realm," but due to a missing comma, it was argued the law also applied outside the UK, sealing Casement’s fate.
Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler (1925)
Written during Hitler’s imprisonment, Mein Kampf laid out the ideological foundations of Nazism, which ultimately led to World War II and the Holocaust. While the book itself didn’t "kill" in a direct sense, its ideas inspired one of the deadliest conflicts in human history and the genocide of millions.
The Nazi book burnings, led by the German Student Union in the 1930s, targeted works deemed subversive or opposed to Nazi ideology. Books by Jewish, communist, socialist, pacifist, and other authors were destroyed, including those by Karl Marx, Albert Einstein, and Helen Keller. This campaign extended to occupied territories, like Poland, as part of a broader cultural genocide.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951)
While The Catcher in the Rye itself is not a deadly book, it has been linked to the murder of John Lennon. Lennon’s murderer, Mark David Chapman, was found reading The Catcher in the Rye after the murder and identified with its protagonist, Holden Caulfield, in a disturbing way. Though the book didn’t directly inspire Chapman, its association with Lennon’s death casts a shadow.
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak (1957)
While Pasternak was not executed for his novel, his work was banned in the Soviet Union because of his criticism of the Russian Revolution. Others connected with dissident writings during the Stalinist period were often executed or sent to labour camps.
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell (1971)
While The Anarchist Cookbook is not a traditional literary work, it contains instructions for creating explosives and has been linked to acts of violence and domestic terrorism. It remains controversial and dangerous, having been cited in many criminal cases involving violent extremists.
Woman at Point Zero Nawal El Saadawi (1975)
Nawal El Saadawi’s feminist novel, based on real events in Egypt, led to her imprisonment. While her book gained international recognition, her work was banned in her home country, and Egyptian publishers who supported her had to navigate government censorship and the risk of being shut down for promoting such controversial ideas.
El Saadawi suffered female genital mutilation (FGM) at the age of six, which she narrativised in her 1977 novel The Hidden Face of Eve.
‘If I don’t tell the truth, I don’t deserve to be called a writer,’
El Saadawi fearlessly addressed topics of patriarchy, sexuality, nationalism, religious fundamentalisms, and the position of women in Arab societies, all within the broader scope of human liberation. Facing criticism from the former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Saudi fundamentalists only strengthened her conviction that she was advocating for the right causes. (1931–2021)
‘Maybe people are angry with me, but I’m not angry with myself’
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie (1988)
Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses became infamous for its portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad, which was seen as blasphemous by many in the Muslim world. The book sparked worldwide protests, and Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie's death. The fatwa not only forced Rushdie into hiding but also led to the murder of his Japanese translator and attacks on other associates. On August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie was attacked and stabbed multiple times while preparing to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. The assailant, Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old man with dual U.S.- Lebanese citizenship, charged the stage and inflicted serious injuries on Rushdie.
Putin's Russia by Anna Politkovskaya (2004)
Journalist Anna Politkovskaya’s book Putin's Russia exposed the corruption and brutality of Vladimir Putin’s regime. In 2006, Politkovskaya was murdered, widely believed to be an assassination related to her outspoken journalism. Her book, seen as a threat to those in power, cost her, her life.
In May 2007, Random House published Politkovskaya's A Russian Diary posthumously, including extracts from her notebooks. The book is subtitled A Journalist's Final Account of Life, Corruption, and Death in Putin's Russia, covering the period from December 2003 to August 2005. It details events such as "the death of Russian parliamentary democracy", the Beslan school hostage crisis, and the "winter and summer of discontent" from January to August 2005. Because of Anna Politkovskaya's murder during the translation, Arch Tait said the final edit had to proceed without her input.
Asli Erdoğan Turkish Author and Journalist (2010s)
Asli Erdoğan was imprisoned due to her writing and journalism that criticized Turkey's treatment of Kurds and political dissenters. While she survived this ordeal, her imprisonment sheds light on the risks encountered by writers who dare to confront authoritarian regimes.
In 1998, she began writing a column for the newspaper 'Radikal'. Her column, 'the Others', addressed controversial topics: prisons, torture, the Kurdish issue, women's rights, and more, which brought her both fame and trouble, leading to her dismissal in 2001.
She faced a vigilante campaign, but amidst this, she published a book of poetic prose titled 'In the Silence of Life' and was honored with the DUNYA Book of the Year Award. She compiled her essays, which have been translated into over a dozen languages, into three books: 'The Diary of a Mad Woman', 'When a Journey Ends', and 'Once Again'. In 2010, she returned to work for Radikal but was dismissed once more. She then started writing a column for 'Özgür Gündem', the Kurdish newspaper, and is currently in exile in Graz, Austria.
Books are more than just Pages of Words
Books are more than just pages of words - they can incite prejudice, provoke revolutions, and challenge deeply entrenched beliefs. When a book threatens the status quo, it’s not just the authors who are in danger but also the publishers who risk everything to bring these ideas to light. The power of the written word is such that it can make both authors and publishers disappear, erased by the forces that find their ideas too dangerous to tolerate.
Publishing houses, once seen as homes of free expression and cultural diversity, can and do close down for a variety of reasons. Often, these closures are the result of political, social, or economic pressures which challenge their ability to function independently.
The most common causes behind the closure of a publishing house can be from state censorship to financial difficulties.
State censorship and political pressure
Governments, particularly in authoritarian regimes, may shut down publishers to silence dissenting voices or control narratives that challenge their authority. State interventions often take the form of legal restrictions, confiscation of assets, or outright bans on publications deemed subversive.
Government Intervention
Authorities in Hong Kong forced Apple Daily to close in 2021 after freezing its assets. Known for its critical stance toward the government, this newspaper became one of the most high-profile casualties of the National Security Law, which severely restricted press freedom.
Legal Restrictions
Countries may impose laws targeting certain content. Government policies forced publishers like Nicaragua's El Nuevo Diario to close when they lost access to necessary materials including the blocking of raw materials for print. Other publishers have seen their offices ransacked and occupied by the police.
“economic, technical and logistical difficulties, which made its operation unsustainable”
Antitrust Actions
Even in more democratic contexts, governments intervene in the publishing industry. The U.S. government recently blocked a major merger between two of the largest publishers, citing concerns that it would lead to monopolistic practices, reduce competition, and stifle the diversity of voices in publishing.
Mob rule and public vigilance
In some cases, public or community-driven actions contribute to the shutdown of publishers. This can take the form of physical attacks on printing presses or digital harassment campaigns, both of which can intimidate publishers into ceasing operations.
Mob censorship
In some countries, groups may take it upon themselves to silence publishers through violence or intimidation. These extrajudicial actions create an atmosphere of fear, forcing many media outlets to shut their doors.
Digital harassment
In the digital age, threats often emerge online. Harassment campaigns, particularly against journalists, have led to self-censorship or even the complete withdrawal of individuals and publishers from the industry due to trauma and fear for safety.
Economic factors
More often than not, the lifeblood of any publishing house is its financial health. Shrinking readership, market consolidation, and increased competition from larger players can devastate smaller or independent publishers.
Insufficient sales:
Many publishers close simply because they cannot make a profit. The rise of digital media, competition from multinational publishing giants, and market consolidation have all made it harder for smaller, independent publishers to survive.
Corporate restructuring
Even large publishing houses aren’t immune to economic pressures. Mergers, acquisitions, or restructuring often lead to the closure of imprints or entire divisions. This can result in significant redundancies and the loss of diverse voices.
Public backlash
A strong public reaction to controversial content can also lead to a publisher’s closure. When a publication crosses a social or cultural line, the backlash can be swift and uncompromising.
Protests and Threats:
In extreme cases, demonstrations or boycotts can force publishers to reconsider their business model or shut down altogether. The public's outrage over specific content has led to the cessation of operations in order to avoid further conflict.
Historical Examples of Publisher Shutdowns
The history of publishing is littered with examples of state-driven closures, highlighting how political dynamics play a significant role in silencing certain voices: Government pressures and asset freezes forced Apple Daily (Hong Kong) to shut down in 2021. Cambodia Daily (Cambodia): A gigantic tax bill in 2017 led to the closure of this independent paper, known for its critical stance on the government. The Post (Zambia):
The state targeted this influential newspaper with selective taxes, which resulted in its closure ahead of important elections.
Legal and financial pressures can swiftly silence even the most prominent publishers, undermining free expression and public discourse.
A Delicate Balance
The shutting down of publishing companies is a result of a range of difficulties encountered by the industry, including political censorship, financial constraints, and negative reactions from the public. While publishers have traditionally played a crucial role in public discussions, their existence can be uncertain in some parts of the world. It is crucial to understand these complex issues to safeguard a independent voices in publishing.
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