The main theme revolves around the censorship of literature, as the school board's decision to burn the books is a clear act of censorship.
In this letter, Kurt Vonnegut addresses Charles McCarthy, the head of the Drake School Board, in response to the burning of copies of his novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" in the school's furnace. Vonnegut expresses his displeasure at the destruction of his work and challenges the notion that his writing is evil.
He emphasizes the reality of books and writers and criticizes the community's perception that they are unreal. Vonnegut also asserts that he and his publisher have not capitalized on the incident for publicity and have refrained from exploiting the situation. The tone of the letter is one of frustration, anger, and disappointment.
The main theme revolves around the censorship of literature, as the school board's decision to burn the books is a clear act of censorship. Vonnegut defends the importance of free expression and challenges the idea that his work is inherently evil.