![]() ![]() ![]() Of course, the bans were coded messages to the American reading public, which concluded that the book sounded like fun. In those days, you know, you could solve everything with an ellipse." "I wrote only two sexy passages," she remarked, "and my publishers took both of them out. Winsor denied that her book was particularly daring, and said that she had no interest in "anatomical scenes". Other states joined in the condemnation, and the critics, joyless and hostile, were led by Orville Prescott, who denounced the novel as "a crude and superficial glorification of a courtesan". Combing the text, the Massachusetts attorney-general found 70 references to sexual intercourse, 39 illegitimate pregnancies, seven abortions, 10 scenes in which women undressed in front of men who were not their husbands, and nearly 50 "miscellaneous objectionable passages" - and announced that the book would be banned (an action overturned on appeal). In a pre-emptive move to scare Hollywood away from such a sexy novel, the book was denounced by the powerful Hays Office, which offered guidance on morals to the studio bosses. ![]() ![]() An unprecedented budget of $20,000 was spent on a nationwide promotion campaign. Publicity was strongly led by seductive photographs of the author - a 24 year-old "raven-haired beauty" - and a rumour reached the gossip columns that she was being considered to star in the big-budget movie. ![]()
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