Routledge - Masculinity and the Trials of Modern Fiction

Explore the complex relationship between literature and the legal system in Masculinity and the Trials of Modern Fiction. This academic work from the Discourses of Law series investigates how legal professionals, including lawyers, judges, and jurors, interpret and react to novels within a courtroom setting. Focusing on nineteenth-century England and France, the book examines the historical legal prosecution of literature. It provides a detailed analysis of how five specific novels faced legal scrutiny and censure. By looking at works such as Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary and Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, the text reveals what happens when creative writing confronts the strict boundaries of the law. This study is essential for readers interested in the intersection of sociology, law, and literary history. It offers a deep look into the ways legal institutions have shaped the reception of modern fiction through judicial interpretation and censorship.