Top 10 Controversial Writers

Throughout the history, lot of people have preferred to convey their intellect and thoughts through literature. It’s a sure fact that writers are heavily tempted by the society as well as the social context, but it’s a matter of fact that some time, some authors are rejected by the same society for exploring its hidden aspects. TopYaps lists ten controversial writers who conveyed their opinions through books and novels, but were labelled as disputatious.

10. Judy Blume:

Best known for writing one of the most arguable  novels on children and young adults, Judy Blume is an eminent yet controversial writer of America. Judy Blume’s novels revolve around teenagers, dealing with several issues such as sexuality, existence of God, friendship, religion and other burning topics which are considered contagious for a particular age-group. No doubt, this controversial writer has been banned in United States for independently writing on censored topics, yet her books have managed to exceed sales of 80 million copies worldwide.

9. Thomas Paine:

One of the founding fathers of the United States, Thomas Paine revolutionized the literal world by writing a deistic pamphlet, “The Age of Reason,” which challenges the authenticity of Bible and severely criticizes the methodologies of institutionalized religion. This controversial writer was blackballed for ridiculing Christianity by contemporary intellectuals, and till the date he is considered as one of the most controversial figures in writing arena.

8. J. D. Salinger:

Perhaps, most well known for his controversial novel – “The Catcher in the Rye,” J. D. Salinger is termed for being one of the most controversial writers of the 20th century whose works led to public attention and scrutiny. Main characters in Salinger’s stories were generally misfits of society who search for happiness through symbolism, religion and loneliness. For employing disputed subjects in his novels, Salinger is believed as controversial writer by many critics.

7. D.H. Lawerence:

David Herbert Richards Lawerence was an eminent novelist, essayist, poet and painter of England, who, by his works, earned stack of retaliations in the literal world and endured censorship along with official persecution. This controversial writer was widely known for fueling some of the frank discussions such as religion, psychology and sex. During the last time of his death, Lawerence’s reputation was that of a pornographer who had devastated his artistic integrity, moral sincerity and considerable talents.

6. Taslima Nasrin:

Taslima Nasrin was a doctor in Bangladesh who later turned into a firebrand poet and author. Thiscontroversial writer has been widely criticized by intellectuals and some of the prominent authors for ridiculing Islamic principles and propagating objectionable and preposterous comments against this religion. Since 1994, Taslima has been living in exile and currently she is residing in New Delhi where she works for human rights, freedom of thought and equality for women.

5. Voltaire:

Counted among one of the most eminent French Enlightenment figures, Voltaire was a prolific yetcontroversial writer who is best known for advocating freedom of religion as well as separation of church and state. A straight-from-the-shoulder supporter of social reform, Voltaire had earned controversy from the very beginning of his writing career.

4. Sigmund Freud:

Founding father of psychoanalysis and a celebrated researcher of unconscious mind, Sigmund Freud’s view on women is still a subject of controversial debate. Theories of this controversial writer on female nature have been marginalized by experts of psychology as they were sexist and pseudo-scientific. According to Freudian theory, the primary motivational energy of human life is sexual desire. No doubt, his books are considered as objects of controversy, but he has a strong impact upon the civilisation in western world over 8-9 decades or so.

3. Salman Rushdie:

Legendary head in the ring of modern controversial writers, Salman Rushdie came to prominence after after winning Booker Prize for his second novel – “Midnight’s Children.” It’s a matter of fact that this top-notch author of magical realism became a matter of global hatred after launching his controversial novel “The Satanic Verses.” Rushdie was widely condemned by Islamic groups and various authors for ridiculing Islam and its functions in this novel. Not even this, for his blasphemy, a fatwa was issued against him by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran.

2. Mark Twain:

Best known for being the greatest humorist of his age, Mark Twain’s ironies and satires have been often considered by many intellectuals as vulgar and insensitive. His popular novel “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was criticized by contemporary critics for violating the traditions of American democracy. Racial slurs used in this novel were enough to flare up controversy during the Civil Rights movement in United States.

1. Vladimir Nabokov:

Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian author who was widely criticized for his tongue-in-cheek erotic novel, “Lolita.” Considered as one of the most controversial and erotic novels of 20th century, the word Lolita is now synonymously used to account a sexually precocious girl. Though the book was scandalous, it catapulted the controversial writer to enormous fame and fortune.

Sources : topyaps.com