Reynolds’s Illustrated News

17 November 1935

Banned Book Mystery

Special to “Reynolds’s”

Why a novel, published five years ago, should suddenly come under a police ban at Bristol is a mystery which the authoress and others are trying to solve.

The book, “Dying Flame,” was written by Gervée Baronte, who is living at Bayswater, London.

It was published by a well-known firm, and enjoyed a good circulation.

Suddenly, a few weeks ago, the book was seized, with a number of others, during a raid conducted by Superintendent Heaman, of the B Division of Bristol police.

Mme. Baronte told me that she heard nothing of the matter until a new book of hers was in circulation

“I was then told,” she said, “that the firm I had approached would not handle the new book, because ‘Dying Flame’ had been banned.

“I cannot imagine why this should be, seeing that the book has been out so many years, and nobody has ever complained about it at all.”

Following the police seizure, summonses were issued against Westwood (Bristol) Ltd., wholesale booksellers, and Chain Libraries, Ltd., both of Victoria-street, Bristol.

A London solicitor represented the two firms, and by mutual consent the application for an order to destroy the books was withdrawn on an undertaking being given that they would not be further circulated.

He emphasised that he was making no admission that the books were obscene.

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24 November 1935

Authors Move in Book Ban

Seek Amended Law

“Reynolds’s” Correspondent

Following “Reynolds’s” disclosure last week of the mysterious banning by the Bristol police of Mme. Gervée Baronte’s novel “Dying Flame,” five years after publication, the Authors’ Society is contemplating renewed activity to have the law amended.

“As the law is at present, the author may know nothing at the time of his book being banned,” and official of the society told me.

“We would like the law altered so that the author can be made a party to the action and so be given a chance to defend his or her book.”

At present, it was pointed out, although the judgment nominally refers only to the division in which it is given, it has an effect on booksellers and librarians all over the country.

“Local prejudice,” the official said, “enters the question. The views of local watch committees have been known to differ widely from those of the Lord Chamberlain.

“We have had several discussions with the Publishers’ Association, and the case of Mme. Baronte’s book will probably come up at a future meeting.”