Comments on: “Eastern Shame Girl” pulp novel http://www.picturedujour.com/2008/10/23/eastern-shame-girl-pulp-novel/512 Dispatches from Chicago photographer Jim Newberry Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:57:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cuyler Brooks http://www.picturedujour.com/2008/10/23/eastern-shame-girl-pulp-novel/512#comment-945 Cuyler Brooks Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:34:25 +0000 http://www.picturedujour.com/?p=512#comment-945 The b&w plate also appears in EASTERN LOVE STORIES from Shakespeare House, with no artist credit - but from others in the same book I can see from the signature lower left that it's by Nino Carbe (trying to imitate Mahlon Blaine). The b&w plate also appears in EASTERN LOVE STORIES from Shakespeare House, with no artist credit – but from others in the same book I can see from the signature lower left that it’s by Nino Carbe (trying to imitate Mahlon Blaine).

]]> By: Lisa H. http://www.picturedujour.com/2008/10/23/eastern-shame-girl-pulp-novel/512#comment-923 Lisa H. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:40:00 +0000 http://www.picturedujour.com/?p=512#comment-923 Just a little more background on this book for your readers - Eastern Shame Girl was the original title of the book when it was published in the late 1920s - it was banned as obscene in the US, although it (I assume the publisher rather than the book) was cleared of the obscenity charge. It was re-published by Three Sirens Press/Illustrated Editions under the "Chinese Love Tales" title - I'm guessing either because of a desire to avoid association with the obscenity charges, or because of the previous publisher's rights to the "Eastern Shame Girl" title? (Publishing rights seem to have been a much more fluid thing in past, with reprints of many books made by multiple publishers one right after another - whether that's the case here or not I'm just speculating.) I think it's hilarious that your 1947 edition was once again trying to sex up these stories - trust me, to a modern sensibility there's nothing very "steamy" here, let alone erotic, pornographic, obscene, smutty, whatever you want to call it. Yes, the characters in these stories often have sex; it is referred to casually, euphemistically, and as a natural part of the storyline. How refreshing! I've linked to a copy of the book I currently have for sale on Etsy (11/09), where you can see scans of some of the beautiful illustrations from the 1935 Three Sirens edition. Just a little more background on this book for your readers – Eastern Shame Girl was the original title of the book when it was published in the late 1920s – it was banned as obscene in the US, although it (I assume the publisher rather than the book) was cleared of the obscenity charge. It was re-published by Three Sirens Press/Illustrated Editions under the “Chinese Love Tales” title – I’m guessing either because of a desire to avoid association with the obscenity charges, or because of the previous publisher’s rights to the “Eastern Shame Girl” title? (Publishing rights seem to have been a much more fluid thing in past, with reprints of many books made by multiple publishers one right after another – whether that’s the case here or not I’m just speculating.)

I think it’s hilarious that your 1947 edition was once again trying to sex up these stories – trust me, to a modern sensibility there’s nothing very “steamy” here, let alone erotic, pornographic, obscene, smutty, whatever you want to call it. Yes, the characters in these stories often have sex; it is referred to casually, euphemistically, and as a natural part of the storyline. How refreshing!

I’ve linked to a copy of the book I currently have for sale on Etsy (11/09), where you can see scans of some of the beautiful illustrations from the 1935 Three Sirens edition.

]]>