Case Studies

Abstract

This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the cc by-nc 4.0 license. chapter 6 Case StudiesIn this chapter, examples of forbidden literary works from different eras and genres will be examined with regard to the characteristics or specific elements for which they were banned. Due to the scarcity of archival sources, there are only very few cases in which actual censorial assessments, log files, or similar documents specifying reasons for a prohibition are available. Therefore, the majority of these texts will be analyzed through the virtual "eyes of the censor." The perspective of the censors reviewing the works can be extrapolated from censorship guidelines, the few preserved assessments, and the reading of several hundred forbidden writings. PeriodicalsPeriodicals represent nearly a quarter of the 51,342 total entries in the prohibition lists (11,493 entries or 22.4 percent). They complement the 32,487 books (63.3 percent) and 7,362 (14.3 percent) "other" works (manuscripts, engravings, etc.). The "frontrunners" with the most entries among the periodicals are the Allgemeiner Anzeiger und Nationalzeitung der Deutschen (General Gazette and National Newspaper of the Germans; 231),