Why was the autobiography of alice b toklas banned?

Answer 1

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One of Stein's best-known works is The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (1933), a fictionalised account of her own life from her companion's point of view. Alice is "Pussy" to Gertrude; Gertrude is "Lovey" to Alice.

Discussing homosexuality, Stein writes that men are disgusted after sex together but "in woman it is the opposite. They do nothing that they are disgusted by . . . afterwards they are happy . . ."
After Gertrude dies in 1946, Alice lives on serving Stein's reputation until her death in 1967.

Source(s):

Sunday Times Article

Answer 2

possibly, miss Toklas published her own literary memoir, a 1954 book that mixed reminiscences and recipes under the title The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook. The most famous recipe therein (actually contributed by her friend Brion Gysin) was called "Hashisch Fudge", a mixture of fruit, nuts, spices, and "cannabis sativa" .

Answer 3

As you probably know, that "autobiography" was actually written by Gertrude Stein. She & A.B. Toklas were lesbian lovers living what was considered a pretty wild life in Paris during the roaring 20s. The book was banned because it was too spicy for the American censors. When it was written, and for some decades afterward (until the '50s, I think) America had federal censorship laws, which were enforced by the Postmaster General or the Customs (or maybe both -I forget which), and the book was banned as pornographic or immoral, because of its sexual content.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_B._To…
http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/piopresskits/…