Genet was a well-known French author of novels, plays, poems and essays. His works have received widespread attention including analyses by philosophers Jean Paul Sartre and Jacques Derrida. From the late 1960s, starting with a homage to Daniel Cohn-Bendit after the events in Paris of May 1968, Genet became politically active. He participated in demonstrations drawing attention to the living conditions of immigrants in France. Genet's writings always stirred controversy. His works were banned in America and six of his novels were banned in Australia. Genet is included in AustLit because his work was
banned or restricted in Australia by the Federal censor.