Dirty Works: Book Launch & Discussion

Brett Gary’s Dirty Works: Obscenity on Trial in America’s First Sexual Revolution is a rich account of 1920s to 1950s New York City, starring an eclectic mix of icons like James Joyce, Margaret Sanger, and Alfred Kinsey―all led by an unsung hero of free expression and reproductive rights: Morris L. Ernst. Join Brett Gary (NYU) and Jon Zimmerman (University of Pennsylvania) as they discuss the legal and cultural legacy set forth by Ernst in his steadfast battle against the censorship of sexual knowledge.

“This impressive book sheds light on the entangled, age-old relationship of laws, progress, and morality. Gary has written a compelling tour de force.” — Nadine Strossen, Former President of The American Civil Liberties Union on Brett Gary’s Dirty Works: Obscenity on Trial in America’s First Sexual Revolution

The Center for the Humanities is committed to making our events as accessible as possible to everyone, including (but not limited to) those with visual and hearing impairments. For disability accommodations please contact us at humanities.center@nyu.edu as soon as possible. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU. For more information on the book visit the Dirty Works Website