Banned Books – The Yellow Wallpaper + Symposium

Banned Books – The Yellow Wallpaper + Symposium brings together two landmark works that challenged the cultural, moral, and intellectual boundaries of their eras. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper and Plato’s Symposium each faced suppression, criticism, or restricted circulation for daring to explore themes society was not ready to confront — from mental health and gender oppression to sexuality, philosophy, and the nature of love.

In The Yellow Wallpaper, Gilman delivers a chilling psychological portrait of a woman confined under the oppressive “rest cure,” exposing the dangers of medical paternalism and the silencing of women’s voices. Its unsettling depiction of mental deterioration and its bold feminist critique led to challenges in schools and discomfort among early readers who deemed it too disturbing or inappropriate.

In Symposium, Plato examines the meaning of love through a series of philosophical speeches, openly discussing same‑sex relationships, desire, and the pursuit of beauty. Throughout history, the text faced condemnation from religious authorities, restricted access in academic institutions, and modern challenges for its candid treatment of sexuality and its questioning of moral norms.

This edition also includes two classic bonus mystery stories, adding depth and variety to the collection: