Sex and the law have never been easy bedfellows. While there have been outrages and indecencies since time immemorial, the definition of immorality, unacceptable behaviour and what legally constitutes evidence has undergone constant revision through the ages. From the glamorous to the seedy, this fascinating book charts the evolution of sex in the eyes of the law. Taking in the big names of scandal such as Oscar Wilde, John Profumo and Lorena Bobbitt, as well as the lesser known though equally significant, it shows the variant effect that time, place, class and gender can have on legal decisions and how today's crimes can be yesterday's mores.
Sometimes shocking, always pertinent, this is a compelling tour of the taboos and technicalities of sex law.