Did Lady Chatterley’s Lover corrupt wives and servants?

ILL EFFECTS

Ben takes Rich back to the landmark case study of a book that was accused of changing the world forever by containing descriptions of sex and swearwords. Join us for a 150-year history of obscenity laws, the power of literature to corrupt, swinging 60s, explicit fan fiction, and whether you’d want YOUR wife or servant reading this filth.

Show Notes:

Chandos, John (1962) To deprave and corrupt...”. Original Studies in the Nature and Definition of 'Obscenity' Associated Press.

Erlanson, Erik, et al. (2020) Forbidden Literature: Case Studies on Censorship. Kriterium.

[Video] Hawes, James (2006) The Chatterley Affair, BBC

Hilliard, Christopher (2013). “Is It a Book That You Would Even Wish Your Wife or Your Servants to Read?” Obscenity Law and the Politics of Reading in Modern England. The American Historical Review, 118(3), 653-678.

[Video] 1960: Lady Chatterley's Lover Goes on Sale

Ozimek, John and Julian Petley (2009) ‘Our outdated obscenity law’, The Guardian, 1st July.

Roberts, M. J. D. (1985). ‘Morals, Art, and the Law: The Passing of the Obscene Publications Act, 1857’, Victorian Studies, 28(4), 609-629.

Rolph, C. H. (1991). The Trial of Lady Chatterley: Regina V. Penguin Books Limited: The Transcript of the Trial. Penguin

Thomas, Nick (2013). “‘To-Night's Big Talking Point is Still that Book’ Popular Responses to the Lady Chatterley Trial”, Cultural and Social History, 10(4), 619-634.

Note: Journal articles are often behind paywalls. If you don't have institutional access but would like a copy of these papers please email [e-mail] and we will happily send you one.

Credits:

Hosts – Rich McCulloch and Ben Litherland

Music by - Brutalust (Colin Frank and Maria Sappho), recorded and mixed by Joe Christman

Creative producer – Rachel Wood

Technical producer – Caroline Pringle

Technical production – Colin Frank