Amy Werbel

An exploration into the life and work of Anthony Comstock, famous or infamous for his work in suppressing vice, and compelling Americans to talk about the differences between art and pornography and the line between free speech and obscenity.

The author has done much research and demonstrates it well. The reader is given insight into Comstock's origins and the sources of his motivations; his career is systematically explained with plenty of primary source details provided. Comstock is well contextualized as are those who opposed him and the changes in society which took place during his life.

In the end the author proves quite unsympathetic to her subject and the work is written partly to explain how we got to where we are in terms of concerns about obscenity and the First Amendment arguments which led to expansion of free speech and free expression, but also to condemn not only Comstock but all who would come after him in their concerns. The author concludes with a desire to make sure that free speech and free expression are preserved from zealous neo-Comstocks; I am sure she has Ashcroft and his covering of Lady Justice in mind.

And, to that end, she has a point for her concern; it is one thing to have personal scruples, and it is quite another to attempt to impose them on everyone else. What is disappointing is that there is no counterbalance, no concern as to whether unbridled free expression is really a great or healthy thing for a society, and whether there should be some set of standards for public decency so as to allow some people, if they so choose, to maintain more strict standards about what they see and consume than others. And there is certainly no discussion in the work about how Comstockery may come from the Left in its own zeal in attempting to reform morals and suppress what is seen as vice, offensive literature and ideas, and the like.

Such is not an attempt to justify Comstock in his methods, approach, or excess; but if Comstock is going to be held up as a warning about what happens when someone with an understandable concern is given too much power and influence to shut down and shame, then that warning should be broadcast across the spectrum, not giving a pass to your own tribe and signaling one's fear of the other tribe.

Also, erotic Victorian imagery present within the book.

**--galley received as part of early review program… (meer)