Banned books and Girl Detached
Book banning has existed as long as books themselves. What one person reads as vivid, refreshing or challenging, another may read as violent, perverse or politically dubious. Many classics of world literature have been banned at certain points in their history; some still are banned in certain places. In Manuela Salvi’s native Italy, censors believed
Girl Detached to be such a “dangerous” book that they had it banned. Perhaps the issue was that Girl Detached is truthful about bodies and sex. Perhaps the censors thought that young people lack the capacity to consider serious issues affecting themselves or other young people. Or perhaps the censors were uncomfortable with how Girl Detached lays bare society’s attitudes to these issues – where those who are wealthy, privileged and, nearly always, male can silence those who are not. We do not believe that anyone should have the right to publish anything they like. There is a need to protect individuals from harm, for example by legislating against the sharing of exploitative images of real people. But we
do believe that it is wrong to silence the voices of writers simply because we do not agree with what they have to say. This of course happens most often to those who challenge political realities or ask difficult questions of society – as Manuela does. In seeking to ban Girl Detached, we believe that the censors are guilty of increasing intolerance and perpetuating a culture in which young people are less, not more safe. Our society has been rocked by a string of cases of the very type of exploitation the book portrays, at the heart of a great cultural institution, within care scenarios and within our national sport. We believe in talking openly about these issues. We believe that silencing Manuela through prurience, squeamishness or shame is to perpetuate a culture in which young people are potentially more vulnerable to sexual shaming and abuse. Manuela says, “I consider myself a cultural refugee. A refugee is usually someone who has escaped war or threats to their life. Of course, nobody in Italy is aiming a gun at me or threatening to put me in prison. But I do believe that Italian politicians and institutions are slowly fostering inequality, discrimination, homophobia and anti-feminism. It’s happening to Italian writers and readers. I know, because I’ve been on the receiving end. But I have a voice and I need to make it heard.” We are proud to give Manuela a voice in this powerful translation by Denise Muir. We are even more proud of the tweets we have received from young people in the UK and beyond like these:
“Angry & disgusted that it was banned in your home country but we in the UK & Ireland welcome it” Christopher Moore @YAblooker
“I finished #GirlDetached last night. WOW. I couldn’t put it down. Such a hard-hitting, brave & relevant read” Mrs K @rhodak09
“I will be proud to help ensure Manuela’s writing isn’t silenced” Rita @WeavingPages
“Glad that the book #GirlDetached will be out in UK in September. Not so lucky in Italy” Cecilia l. Massaggia @la_cim
“Just finished #GirlDetached. Italian YA published in English. A powerful and harrowing portrayal of grooming. Brexit must not stop projects like these” Charlotte Eyre @CharlotteLEyre
We hope you will help us make sure Manuela’s voice is heard. Tweet us using the tag #GirlDetached / @bucketlistbks