Stratford Guild's REVIEW of Wednesday 9 September talk
Updated: 9 minutes ago
'Censored' - speaker Miranda Pender
Miranda told us of the intriguing tale of Norah C. James (a past member of her wider family) and the obscenity trial of 1929.
Norah was born in London in 1895, into a wealthy, but disjointed family. She was left with a very negative view of marriage. She was also deeply affected by a history of mental health in her family.
Before taking up writing Norah had numerous careers including as a nurse during the First World War, a trade union organiser for civil servants, and a journalist. Eventually she became the advertising manager for a British publisher. She was also a political activist which brought her into conflict with the authorities.
In 1929 Norah wrote her first novel called ‘Sleeveless Errand’. In it she describes the disillusionment of the ‘Lost Generation’ in post-World War I London, looking at the mental health and social mores of the time. It contained gritty dialogue and a suicide pact. Initially the book sold well. But the Home Secretary ordered a prosecution under the Obscene Publications Act 1857. Norah was not prosecuted but her publisher was, for which later, when she became wealthy, she compensated him.
At the trial the Prosecutor said the book contained “conversations of persons with no idea of morality who were mainly drunk using foul language”. The defence argued it merely reflected the behaviour of certain sections of society. It was ruled obscene for ‘excessive' use of 'bad language’ and all but a few representative copies were ordered to be destroyed. However, it was later published in Paris and New York and was a great success, being sought after by English tourists especially, who couldn’t buy it in the UK.
Notoriety did no harm to Norah’s later literary career. She wrote over 60 novels, many of which were hospital romances considered “racy” rather than obscene.
Norah was never deemed to be a great literary author and her books are now almost unobtainable and she is virtually unknown. Miranda, who has read them, said that whilst some of the language used was racist and sexist and would be unacceptable today, the obscenity “would not turn a hair”. Miranda felt that Norah wanted to portray real life as she saw it, but that was unacceptable to the establishment at that time.
The talk concluded with two songs composed and sung by Miranda to the accompaniment of her guitar. The songs were inspired by and reflected certain aspects of Norah’s story.
Judith Kennard
The Stratford sub Castle Guild's full programme is on this webpage: