Monday, November 15, 2010

Paperback 370: The Law and the Marriage Bed / Gary Gordon (Monarch 472)

Paperback 370: Monarch 472 (PBO, 1965)

Title: The Law and the Marriage Bed
Author: Gary Gordon
Cover artist: photo

Yours for: $12

Mon472.LawMarriage

Best things about this cover:
  • "A probing analysis!" — "Probing ... not with *that* thing, you're not! I mean, a little legal fetish is one thing—I'll wear the black robe and shout "All rise"—but the gavel is right out!"
  • Her hair is ridiculous.
  • His is not much better.
  • "Case histories" = (very) softcore porn.
  • It takes a special kind of literalist to come up with the "gavel + bouquet on pillow" motif for this book.

Mon472bc.LawMarriage

Best things about this back cover:
  • Whoa, whoa. You think you could ease me into the rape talk!? Who leads with that question!? Yeesh.
  • Hey look, it's the same ugly photo as on the cover. The production budget for this book must have been about $12.

Page 123~

The case of Rex v. Rex (39 Ohio App. 295, 177 N.E. 527) sets forth the principle that for coitus between separated husband and wife to be condonation [of previous adultery], it must be voluntary and not induced by fear, intimidation or secured by trickery.

I would read the novelization of this ruling: "Rex v. Rex" — c'mon, that's a great title.

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

4 comments:

Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King) said...

Hmm, well I can't do "Rex v. Rex", but how about "X v. Rex"? http://existentialennui.blogspot.com/2010/10/lewes-book-bargain-x-v-rex-by-philip.html

JamiSings said...

I think the first is a legit question to lead with though. I remember as a kid in the 80s, not really even knowing the basics of sex, one little girl told me, "A husband cannot rape his wife. If he wants sex she HAS to let him have it." This was after watching the movie Elvis & Me with the part where Elvis apparently forced himself on Priscilla.

I wonder where that little girl is now.

Deb said...

Based on the date of this book and the first question asked on the back, I'm guessing that a lot of the legal mumbo-jumbo was basically a screen for the "The law says you have to give it up when I want it" crowd.

Anonymous said...

"I remember as a kid in the 80s, not really even knowing the basics of sex, one little girl told me, "A husband cannot rape his wife. If he wants sex she HAS to let him have it.""

Oh dear...I think it´s sad that some people STILL believe this kind of stuff.