It is one of the most famous obscenity trials in the history of publishing. R v Penguin Books Ltd tested the strength of a new British obscenity law when the publisher printed an unexpurgated edition of D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover.
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The jury found Penguin Books not guilty, making the book available to a wider British readership. But in Australia, the book was a prohibited import - along with a book about the trial.
Sir Allen Lane, managing director of Penguin Books, arrived in Australia, the Times reported on this day 58 years ago, seeking a meeting with Senator Denham Henty, the customs minister, to discuss the ban.
Senator Henty said he looked forward to meeting Sir Allen, "whose organisation has done much to bring reading within the financial bracket of the majority of the people of Australia", and denied reports Sir Allen had been given "specially rigorous attention" through Customs at Sydney Airport. No copies of the book were found in his coat pockets.
Not until 1965, when a copy of The Trial of Lady Chatterley was smuggled in to Australia and published locally, was the importation ban lifted.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
