Here’s a novel about a novel!
Sounds not quite interesting, is it.... ??
But believe me it is... because the novel is about a novel that is considered to be one of the most banned and obscene books of all times!
The Seven Minutes by Irving Wallace is a one-of-its kind work of fiction that stands apart from his other more popular books.
Let me tell you firsthand, that this is a novel meant for grown-ups... no kidding.
Wallace has always been more popular for his books involving political plots, cold war, Russia - all of them intricately blended with explicitly described sex scenes. But this novel is different in a way that, its main subject revolves around literature containing explicit sexual content, the conservative approach of the society towards such literature, and freedom of speech.
Let me begin with the novel’s plot. No, I will not reveal the plot in its entirety; else all the Irving Wallace fans (who haven’t yet read this masterpiece) will feel to be at a loss. :)
The Outline
The story begins with a bookshop owner named Ben Fremont, getting caught by the ’moral’ state police, for selling a ’pornographic’ book. This book is titled The Seven Minutes; the author -J.J. Jadway.
The ’seven minutes’ in the book describe the thoughts going inside the mind of a young woman, Cathleen, during the seven minutes of sexual intercourse she has with a man.
A case is filled against Fremont - he is charged of selling pornographic, obscene content and spreading prurient thoughts in society.
The state’s case is lead by Elmo Duncan, a shrewd, leading state attorney with an induced desire to become a Senator, and race for the next Presidential seat by winning over this case. He is backed by the amply wealthy Luther Yerkes - a person who is interested in more business and more money - things he will obviously gain by backing the next US President to be!
At the same time when Fremont is being tried for selling pornographic books, a teenager Jerry Griffith rapes a young girl named Sherry Moore. Sherry suffers from a severe head injury and goes into coma. The Seven Minutes is obtained from Jerry’s car trunk!!!
To gain wide coverage, Duncan and Yerkes cook a plan to link the Fremont case to this Sherry Moore rape case. Jerry’s father, Frank Griffith, a leading media man, joins Yerkes and Duncan - less, to save his son, but more to save his own reputation in society.
The book’s publisher, Sanford Publishing House’s Philip Sanford, a man in his 40s, who considers the book to be a masterpiece and not a cheap work of pornography, is very keen to defend it. He summons his old-time friend, the ’hero’ of this story, a leading private attorney, the to-be Vice President of Osborne Associates - Michael Barrett - to lead his case in court.
Michael Barrett or Mike, reads The Seven Minutes. He is overwhelmed and completely taken over by the thoughts conveyed in the book - so much so that he becomes ready to defend the book and to risk his entire career for it.
During this case, Mike comes across different and interesting kind of people - a rich business tycoon, a young high-society woman, a lewd porn-film maker, a penniless publisher of obscene books, a desolate drunkard, a shy and frightened boy, and the girl of his dreams.
The case begins... Yerkes and Duncan, with their money and reach, become successful in grabbing some of the critical witnesses, and in shooing off others that could have been Mike’s major highlights in this case.
Mike and his partner, Abraham (Abe) Zelkin, know that theirs is a weak or rather a lost cause. Now their only hope of winning this case and protecting the basic right to freedom of speech rests on their belief that the author, J.J.Jadway and his ladylove Cassie McGraw are alive somewhere.... somewhere!
As the story proceeds, it picks up speed and accelerates more. New witnesses and surprises are in store. To add to it, Mike’s involvement with Maggie Russell, Jerry’s cousin, brings in a new excitement to the story. Mike’s continuous fight against despair and his never ending search for his prime witnesses definitely keeps you up and wide awake. And not to miss the last 50-odd pages where the story takes an interesting twist!
There’s lots more to be told about ’the novel’ itself, about the heroine of the novel, and about her seven ’divine’ minutes, but for that you must get your hands on ’this novel’.
How a ’so-called’ pornographic book can be so ’thought-provoking’ and ’revolutionary’, how a book can change the way one looks at the ’routine act of sex’, how a book can change a person’s perspective towards obscenity - is what The Seven Minutes is all about.
To know how Mike puts his new job, his rich fiancé, his career, and his entire life at stake to defend this book, you must definitely read this book.
Wallace builds a nice plot, as usual, by taking an intriguing subject of sex, pornography and freedom of speech. His characters are certainly involving and Wallace paints them visually in front of your eyes. He unfolds the plot slowly and develops his characters as the story proceeds. Although there are no great surprises initially, Wallace ensures that you are not lost midway.
There is a lot of legal drama in The Seven Minutes. The courtroom and its proceedings, the judge, the arguments and counter arguments of both the attorneys, the different kinds of witnesses and their experiences - all these are nicely interspersed throughout the storyline by Wallace. At times, some of the legal dialogues become a little too stretched and seem to hinder the fast reading. But these are within check and within context of the plot; so it’s up to you to skim through them or read them meticulously.
Wallace handles this sensitive and at the same time explosive subject very well. Through The Seven Minutes, Wallace tries to prove a point that everything involving sex is not always obscene.
Hmmm… a bit difficult to digest… yes… maybe… or maybe not, but then read it whenever you get a chance... see if he can convince you!