Against The Law

The First UK printing published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London in 1955. The BOOK is in Very Good- condition. Light pushing at the spine ends with a little dulling of the titling to the spine. Mild toning to the text-block. Free from inscriptions. Some of the upper corner page edges have been folded and two of the page corners are partially separated along the folds, but still attached. The scarce wrapper is complete and is in Very Good- condition. It is the correct first issue with the black background banner statement across the front panel. A little loss and rubbing at the spine ends, more so the upper spine tip. A little rubbing to the corners, folds and the spine in places. Some toning to the edges of the flaps and some inevitable age related markings to the rear panel. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The classic account of the 'Montagu Case'. 'Wildeblood was arrested on 9 January 1954, and in March he was brought before the British courts charged with 'conspiracy to incite certain male persons to commit serious offences with male persons' [6]. Wildeblood was charged along with Lord Montagu and Michael Pitt-Rivers, and during the course of the trial he admitted his homosexuality to the court.[7] Montagu received a 12-month sentence, while Wildeblood and Pitt-Rivers were sentenced to 18 months in prison as a result of these and other charges. The harsh verdict divided opinion and led to an inquiry resulting in the Wolfenden Report, which in 1957 recommended the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK.[2] Wildeblood's testimony to the Wolfenden committee was influential on its recommendations. The committee was set up during the prison sentence of Peter Wildeblood in order to investigate the law regarding homosexuality and to give advice and recommendations for reform if need be. Setting up the committee was made possible thanks to increased public attention about homosexuality generated by this and other cases. Peter Wildeblood thus made a great contribution to legal reform, by providing evidence and arguments for the debate in the House of Lords where the law to decriminalise homosexuality was passed in October 1965. Peter Wildeblood was the only openly gay witness to be interviewed and his book 'Against the Law' served as a passionate account of the case and the need for reform.[8][9]' (Wiki). An important and increasingly elusive title. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.