Sex, Literature and Censorship

‘In his original and exciting new book, Jonathan Dollimore sets out to liberate art from contemporary conservative and radical agendas, both of which, as he brilliantly shows, weaken the power of art by their naive faith in its cultural and moral efficacy. Great literature, like the best psychoanalytic theory, argues for the inevitable conflict between humane values and human desire: if we could agree to trust art less we might begin to accord it the seriousness it deserves.' Leo Bersani, University of California at Berkeley

‘No one grasps more fully than Jonathan Dollimore the challenges, evasions and deceptions in the volatile theorizing of identity and desire, past and present. His brilliant, theoretical synthesis combines with graphic experiential and literary analysis to render Sex, Literature and Censorship never less than enthralling. Erudite, provocative and delightful to read, what more could he do for us?' Lynne Segal, author of Why Feminism?

‘Jonathan Dollimore's Sex, Literature and Censorship continues his remarkably resonant inquiry into the darker, defiant regions of the creative imagination. The ethical aim of critical thinking, Dollimore provocatively suggests, requires us to intervene in the corporate consensus of the culture industry, and to resist the pedagogical etiquette of academia. He argues that we must explore the daemonic power of those subjects and objects that offend our tastes and traditions. We applaud and oppose him, following the dialectical destiny of dissidence to which he has skilfully introduced us.' Homi K. Bhabha, Harvard University

'[A] feverish, political polemic.' Steven Poole, The Guardian

'Dollimore speaks an important truth when he suggests that some of the most compelling literature, past and present, hinges on the tension between, if not the incompatibility of, "the ethical conscience and the creative imagination".' The Independent

'Looking at the contradictions of identity-based sexual politics movements, [Dollimore] examines the ethics of knowledge and practice that circulate around ideas of danger - dangers to the self, dangerous knowledge - connecting these with questions posed by art as a site of danger in itself.' Radical Philosophy

'Sex, Literature, and Censorship is a book worth reading; it says provocative things we will ponder long after setting it down' Times Literary Supplement

'Biographical and autobiographical anecdote are one of the chief amusements of this book. Dollimore tells us of his first gay affair, his subsequent relationship with a woman, his particular sexual preferences. It is calculated to shock, performing the dissidence it preaches. Indeed, if I have criticism of the book, it is that it has nothing to say about the tenderness of sexual desire, but that probably reveals precisely how unradical i am.' Times Higher Education Supplement