header-logo header-logo

A lady not for burning

20 October 2023 / William Gibson
Issue: 8045 / Categories: Features , Profession
printer mail-detail
143245
William Gibson on how an unsuccessful, widely-reported prosecution proved to be an unbeatable marketing tool

Any books which fell foul of the Obscene Publications Act 1857 could be shipped to a bonfire. When that Act was superseded in 1959 publishers knew that the new provisions and definitions would have to be tested in court before they could embark on a major print run.

Penguin Books decided in 1960 to publish a collection of works by D H Lawrence to mark the 30th anniversary of his death. One of the books was Lady Chatterley’s Lover (LCL). Written in 1928 it had been widely banned world wide because of the high sexual content and prolific use of four-letter words. They decided to invite prosecution to test the strength of the new Act so they delivered 12 copies to a police inspector. This constituted ‘limited distribution’ so proceedings were begun.

The book

The story is basically of a love affair between the sexually-deprived aristocratic Lady Constance Chatterley (whose husband was disabled in the First

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll