Perspective

by Charles Rembar

Sixteen essays about the First Amendment from the man who changed the way America reads literatureA lawyer, literary agent, and author, Charles Rembar never stopped fighting against the puritanical laws that prevented Americans from consuming controversial art. These so-called anti-obscenity laws prevented the sale and distribution of books that, at the time, were considered racy, salacious, or downright pornographic. During a time of great political and cultural upheaval, Rembar was instrumental in ushering in a significant change in how America views literature, and in maintaining the importance of our First Amendment rights. Perspective collects sixteen essays written between 1967 and 1974, each primarily concerned with the “scope and meaning” of the First Amendment. Divided into three sections, Perspective offers insight into the major “constitutional crises” of the freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and impeachment. Miles away from dry legalese, Rembar’s conversational, often humorous style makes this collection as enjoyable as it is informative. His thought-provoking essays—whether about the Watergate hearings, the trial of Dr. Spock, Bobby Seale’s imprisonment, or literary and artistic freedom—have never been more relevant than they are today. 

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2015

About the author

Charles Rembar was an American attorney renowned for his advocacy of First Amendment rights, particularly in cases involving literary censorship. Born in Oceanport, New Jersey, he grew up in Long Branch and later attended Harvard University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1935, followed by a law degree from Columbia Law School in 1938. Early in his career, he worked for various New Deal agencies before serving in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he settled in the New York area, living in Scarsdale and practicing law in Manhattan.
Rembar founded the law firm Rembar & Curtis, representing prominent authors such as Louise Erdrich, Tom Clancy, Herman Wouk, and Norman Mailer, not only as legal counsel but also frequently as a literary agent. His most significant legal work involved First Amendment cases challenging censorship. In 1959, he successfully defended the publication of an unexpurgated edition of Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence after the U.S. Post Office attempted to suppress it. He later played a key role in legal battles surrounding Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller and Fanny Hill by John Cleland, the latter of which reached the U.S. Supreme Court and contributed to shifting the legal stance on obscenity.
Rembar chronicled these landmark cases in his 1968 book The End of Obscenity: The Trials of Lady Chatterley, Tropic of Cancer and Fanny Hill, which earned a George Polk Award in journalism. He later published Perspective (1975), a collection of essays, and The Law of the Land: The Evolution of Our Legal System (1980), a historical exploration of Anglo-American law aimed at general readers.