Love Me Sailor

Love Me Sailor

First edition
Author	Robert Close
Language	English
Publisher	Melbourne: Georgian House[1]
Publication date	1945
Publication place	Australia
ISBN	9780856170096

Love Me Sailor is a 1945 novel from Australian author Robert Close.[2][3]

Plot

A woman travels on a ship from Chile to the US.[4]

Background

Close finished writing the book in 1943.[5]

Adaptations

The book was to have been adapted into a radio play in 1946 but the production was cancelled at the last minute.[6]

Obscenity Trial

In 1946 Close and "Georgian House Pty Ltd", the publisher of the novel were prosecuted in the Supreme Court of Victoria for "obscene libel".[7][8][9]

During the first trial, the entire 90,000-word book was read to the jury by counsel for the prosecution twice: the first jury was discharged when the court was notified that the foreman of the jury had discussed the case with one of Close's friends.[10] Close was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and a fine of £100.[11] This was later overturned on appeal; he served 10 days in prison and was fined £150.[11]

References

1. Love me sailor (Book, 1945). WorldCat. OCLC 7032159. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
2. Obituary of Robert Close at The Independent
3. "A Siren Goes to Sea". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 31, 064. Victoria, Australia. 23 March 1946. p. 10 (The Argus Week-end Magazine). Retrieved 17 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
4. Dangerous books behind lock and key: Exploring Australia's hidden library collections By Story Hunters Ashlynne McGhee and Loretta Florance ABC News 17 May 2016
5. "Books in Review". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 30, 725. Victoria, Australia. 17 February 1945. p. 10 (The Argus Week-end Magazine). Retrieved 18 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
6. ""THE JITTERS" AT RADIO STATIONS". Daily Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 15 July 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 18 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
7. R v Close [1948] VicLawRp 79, [1948] VLR 445 (29 June 1948), Supreme Court (Full Court) (Vic).
8. "Banned Books: Robert Close". University of Melbourne Library. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
9. ""LOVE ME. SAILOR" CALLED INDECENT, FILTH". Truth. No. 2947. New South Wales, Australia. 14 July 1946. p. 24. Retrieved 18 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "Author, Publisher Guilty of Libel". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
11. "Robert Close Finds Fun in Puncturing the Pompous and Prudish". The Age. Retrieved 26 February 2011.