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The Index of Prohibited Books

Four Centuries of Struggle over Word and Image for the Greater Glory of God
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( 17 ratings, 2 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Index of Prohibited Books by Robin Vose delves into the historical intricacies of the Catholic Church's efforts to control and regulate publications considered dangerous to faith and morals. This scholarly work explores the evolution of censorship practices over centuries, offering insights into the socio-political and religious dynamics that shaped the creation and enforcement of the infamous list. With a focus on historical context, the author illuminates how these practices impacted literature and ideas.
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Format: Hardback
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You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by the history of censorship and the impact of forbidden knowledge on society. It offers a fascinating exploration of how prohibited texts have influenced cultural and intellectual development over the centuries.

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The first full study of the Catholic Church’s notorious Index of Prohibited Books.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The first comprehensive history of the Catholic Church's notorious Index, with resonance for ongoing debates over banned books, censorship, and free speech.

For more than four hundred years, the Catholic Church's Index Librorum Prohibitorum struck terror into the hearts of authors, publishers, and booksellers around the world, while arousing ridicule and contempt from many others, especially those in Protestant and non-Christian circles. Biased, inconsistent, and frequently absurd in its attempt to ban objectionable texts of every conceivable descriptionβ€”with sometimes fatal consequencesβ€”the Index also reflected the deep learning and careful consideration of many hundreds of intellectual contributors over the long span of its storied evolution.

This book constitutes the first full study of the Index of Prohibited Books to be published in English. It examines the reasons behind the Church's attempts to censor religious, scientific, and artistic works, and considers not only why this most sustained of campaigns failed, but what lessons can be learned for today's debates over freedom of expression and cancel culture.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Robin Vose's The Index of Prohibited Books offers a comprehensive history of the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, exploring its profound impact on Christian intellectual intolerance and censorship throughout four centuries. Reviewers praise the book for its insightful, detailed analysis and accessible narrative, shedding light on the failures and ambitions of the Catholic Church's attempts to control information. Vose's work is recognised for balancing understanding of the historical motivations behind the censorship with a modern perspective on its implications, making it both an engaging and educational read for those interested in the cultural and historical phenomena of censorship.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781789146578

Publisher: Reaktion Books

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 12 September 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Reaktion Books

Illustration: 35 illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 296

About the Author

Robin Vose is professor of history at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. He is the author of Dominicans, Muslims and Jews in the Medieval Crown of Aragon and has served as a National Geographic expert on expeditions to Spain and Morocco.

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