Attempts to ban the novel also occurred in several instances. In 1934, several faculty members at Columbia University condemned TOBACCO ROAD and Caldwell's GOD'S LITTLE ACRE as "indecent and tending to corrupt" and demanded the withdrawal of both books from the Teachers College Library. The action was taken even though both books were on required reading lists of several university English courses. In 1941, the novel was barred from mails by the postmaster general, who claimed the that the book was "indecent and immoral." At the same time, the novel continued to be sold in bookstores. In 1953, TOBACCO ROAD was banned from import and sale by the Irish government, which claimed that the novel was "obscene."