Unique Swedish Initiative: ‘1984’ Becomes a Symbol in the Fight Against Censorship
An innovative and deeply symbolic project recently took shape in Sweden during the Forbidden Books Week, when the Davit Isaac Library, in partnership with BBDO Nordics agency, unveiled an extraordinary edition of George Orwell’s classic novel “1984”.
This edition features all chapters of the original book but is impossible to open and read.
This initiative serves as a powerful protest against the growing resurgence of censorship worldwide, emphasizing the importance of fighting for freedom of speech.
The concept underscores that when a book is banned, it transforms into a closed world, and by sealing one of the most influential literary works ever written, society is compelled to stand against censorship.
Davit Isaac Library director Jasmina Dızdarević Cordero stated, “We aimed to make censorship invisible and unignorable, drawing attention to how bans diminish cultural and intellectual freedom.” This project is part of the broader “Woven Books” campaign, which uses design as a form of protest, encouraging public debate on the issues of censorship and freedom of reading.
Unique copies were supported by prominent authors such as Stephen King and Nobel laureate Gerta Müller, with one edition distributed to over a thousand Swedish libraries and bookstores participating in the event.
This effort highlights that book censorship is not only a historical concern but also a contemporary challenge, and engaging society in this dialogue is crucial to safeguard cultural democracy across the globe.