A library of banned books has just opened in this European city – here’s where to find it

There are few things better than a good book – but throughout history, texts deemed controversial, rebellious or anti-establishment have faced censorship or outright bans. In fact, book censorship has been on the rise, with a reported 6,870 schools in the US banning books in 2024-5, according to PEN America. 

So, with the aim of creating a ‘shrine to books that have disappeared’, as it’s been described by the bookshop, a library of banned texts has just opened in Porto’s glorious Livraria Lello. 

We recently named this spot – which is also the oldest bookshop in Portugal – as one of the most gorgeous bookstores on the planet. The Manifesto Library is an exciting addition to its shelves, not just because of the texts included, but also because of who curated them. 

Dua Lipa opens library of banned books in Porto

Born out of her incredibly successful Service95 Book Club (recently renamed to ‘Same Page’), British pop star Dua Lipa is the brains behind the Manifesto Library, opened as part of Porto’s BABELL City of Books Festival in June.

The books are grouped under four broad categories of power, control, voice, and memory. Lipa’s book club was designed to welcome all readers regardless of their circumstances, and the library has been set up to mirror that sentiment. 

According to First Post, featured in the Manifesto Library are The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Attwood, Bett’s Felon by Reginald Dwayne and works by Olga Tokarczuk and Salmon Rushdie, but these are just a handful of the 100 included in total. 

When it comes to literature, Lipa really is doing the most. Earlier this summer, she appeared as a keynote speaker at this year’s tenth anniversary celebrations of the International Booker Prize; she also releases monthly podcast interviews with authors as part of Service95, and is curating the Southbank Centre’s 2026 London Literature Festival in the autumn. 

Excitingly, the Manifesto Library is a permanent feature at Livraria Lello, so make sure to check it out on your next trip to Porto. 

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