The End of Obscenity: The Trials of Lady Chatterley, Tropic of Cancer and Fanny Hill

by Charles Rembar

Description

Winner of the George Polk Award: Charles Rembar's illuminating account of overturning America's obscenity laws and protecting literature from censorship Up until the 1960s, depending on your state of residence, your copy of Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer might be seized by the US Postal Service before reaching your mailbox. Selling copies of Cleland's Fanny Hill in your bookstore was considered illegal. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence was, according to the American legal system, show more pornography with no redeeming social value. Today, these novels are celebrated for their literary and historic worth. The End of Obscenity is Charles Rembar's account of successfully arguing the merits of such great works of literature in front of the Supreme Court. As the lead attorney on the case, he--with the support of a few brave publishers--changed the way Americans read and honor books, especially the controversial ones. Filled with insight from lawyers, justices, and the authors themselves, The End of Obscenity is a lively tour de force. Racy testimony and hilarious asides make Rembar's memoir not only a page-turner but also an enlightening look at the American legal system. show less

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burnit99 3,774 reviews

An account of the trials of "Lady Chatterly", "Tropic of Cancer", and "Fanny Hill" by the lawyer who defended them. More lawyerly than prurient, there are some interesting bits, and the book serves as a reminder that there are always those who would bar others from reading that which they themselves find offensive.

Feb 16, 2007

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DeafScribe 10 reviews

Feb 10, 2006

ghane

Jun 2, 2008

rpuchalsky 23 reviews