3. Ban Lifted On Lady Chatterleys Lover
Written by D H Lawrence, this fruity saga of the aristocratic Constance Chatterley romping with groundskeeper Mellors caused major controversy when it first emerged. In 1959, the Obscene Publications Act was instituted and in 1969", it was tested by Penguin releasing an unexpurgated version of the novel. The law basically would let saucy stuff through if the publishers could prove their work was of artistic merit. There were a few naughty words in the text which raised eyebrows. Various literary heavyweights (including E M Forster) were paraded in front of the court to give evidence that Lady Chatterley's Lover was a serious work of fiction. The court succumbed to their expertise and Penguin were found not guilty in November 1960. It was a sign of more relaxed times ahead in the 1960s and looking at the book through contemporary lens, it is not that much of a big deal in the controversy stakes.