Chapter 31: It is salacious, it is melodramatic, but it is a good novel.
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“Aspirational warrior challenging the old order?”
Anyone who knew Logan and saw a headline like that in the newspaper felt as though they had suddenly gone blind.
If you said he was not inspirational in the slightest, that would not be entirely fair.
After all, building a small newspaper into what it was today could reasonably be called inspirational.
But if you claimed he was trying to challenge some damned old order, anyone familiar with him would probably die laughing.
The man was simply shameless and willing to use any means necessary.
The problem was that the bastard really dared to say such things—and people really dared to believe him.
After the radio stations spread the story, the lawsuit against Logan attracted widespread attention. Chicago’s local newspapers immediately began taking stock of the people involved.
There was not much to say about Reverend Edward. He was just an old codger—no, a rather distinguished conservative.
Logan, however, was practically legendary. In just two months, he had transformed a little tabloid with a circulation of fewer than fifty thousand into a major newspaper with a stable daily circulation of two hundred thousand, ranking among the top five local media outlets in Chicago.
During that time, he had also invented the Victoria’s Secret bra and stirred up the entire nation. The media had even dug up Logan’s patent number for the Victoria’s Secret bra.
By now, anyone with eyes could see that, regardless of how long the “underwear debate” would continue, the Victoria’s Secret bra was certain to become increasingly accepted.
What did that mean?
Whether it was the newspaper or the underwear, their phenomenal success meant that this kid was becoming a wealthy man!
In America, not everyone found stories about poor students making it into elite universities inspirational. But when a pauper—well, at least someone who was not wealthy—became rich through his own abilities in a short period of time, everyone thought that was truly inspiring!
Even Old Richard, while discussing the publication of Fifty Shades of Grey with the publisher Halsey, had been asked whether Logan was interested in writing an autobiography.
“What?”
Richard did not merely feel his vision go dark; his brain actually stopped functioning for a moment.
Wait, you people are really this easy to fool?
If you are that gullible, then I will not stand on ceremony!
Yes, the serialized Fifty Shades of Grey, still running in the Sun, was preparing to be published in book form.
As for the Sun being sued, what did that have to do with publishing his novel?
Had the high-priced legal team been hired to sit around and do nothing?
Richard was not concerned with royalties or the size of the first print run. He made only one small request.
“I hope your publishing house can persuade the literary establishment to recognize the literary value of Fifty Shades of Grey.”
“This…”
The wrinkles gathered at the corners of Halsey’s eyes seemed to reveal his embarrassment.
Of course he knew that Fifty Shades of Grey was currently entangled in a lawsuit, and that recognition from the literary establishment would help them win.
But had Richard taken a good look at what his novel was actually about?
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Put plainly, it was nothing but a purely erotic novel!
Books like that were extremely popular in the market—the Sun’s sales figures proved as much—but they were unlikely to win the favor of literary critics.
Halsey merely wanted to ride the wave and make some money. He had no desire to spend much effort on the other party’s lawsuit.
“Hmph! Do you think I am doing this merely to win my own lawsuit?” Richard gave a short laugh before continuing. “I am thinking of the entire publishing industry.”
“Don’t you want to break free from the shackles of the Comstock Act?”
“You mean…”
A flicker appeared in Halsey’s eyes.
In this era, no publisher could escape the oppression of the Comstock Act.
The law prohibited the sale and distribution of obscene works and immoral articles, and the scope of materials banned from sale was extremely broad.
Likewise, the chief problem in applying the Comstock Act was its sweeping definition of “obscenity.”
What exactly counted as obscene?
American law provided almost no clear definition, so most courts relied heavily on precedent.
“Halsey, you are a New Yorker. You should know better than anyone that not long ago, one of your fellow New York publishers released a borderline book and escaped prosecution because the court ruled that its literary value outweighed its supposed obscenity.”
Richard paused meaningfully.
“That was merely a minor lawsuit that attracted little attention. Ours, however, will turn the courtroom into a public theater, drawing coverage from the national media. Its influence will be impossible to imagine.”
“Tell me, if we win this nationally watched lawsuit, could we change the way most courts across America define ‘obscenity’?”
“And how far could that expand the range of books your publishing industry would be allowed to release?”
The profits would be enormous. There was no question about that.
Their eyes met in the air, then quickly parted, each carrying an unspoken, darkly amused smile.
Halsey’s attitude became much more enthusiastic.
“On our own, we cannot influence very many critics.”
“This benefits the entire industry. We should get more publishers involved.”
Richard smiled faintly.
“The reason I chose you as my publisher is precisely because your reputation in the industry is so strong. I assume you must have your ways.”
Halsey narrowed his eyes with a pleased smile, clearly gratified by Richard’s praise.
But he soon stopped smiling.
“Even so, your novel is far too… explicit. Our New York colleague won that lawsuit because his book merely crossed the line.”
Whereas Fifty Shades of Grey had practically showered sparks!
Richard was unmoved. With patient solemnity, he instructed him:
“You can put it this way—”
“Fifty Shades of Grey is indeed entirely frank about sex. However, the author chose this mode of expression in order to serve the novel’s literary purpose.”
“It is simply the natural, habitual language the author uses to portray the protagonists’ physical and emotional journeys. Not a single instance of the book’s forthright sexual content exists merely for the sake of vulgarity.”
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“It is a sincere and honest book.”
Halsey had already pulled out a pen and notebook and was scribbling away at tremendous speed.
As he took notes, he looked at Richard with admiration.
To say something so shameless with such sincerity—he truly was the author of Fifty Shades of Grey.
Richard did not want to admit that he had learned it all from someone else.
After witnessing that person’s many shameless tactics, he had grasped one fundamental truth:
Shamelessness might be shameless, but it was incredibly useful!
There it was—a backroom deal, successfully concluded!
…
It was not only the book publication. Jeff Hackman, who was beloved by his listeners, also invited Logan to the radio station and transferred the “open” content from the Sun—the very material for which the paper was being sued—onto his radio program.
As for his reading of Fifty Shades of Grey, how should one put it? The explosive erotic passages became beautiful and captivating when delivered in his voice.
After listening to it, Richard could not help exclaiming, “Where did Logan find this man?”
If one could assign attributes, then that single reading had to be worth:
Literary value of Fifty Shades of Grey +10 +10 +10…
Logan also felt that merely bringing in such a phenomenal talent on Annie’s recommendation was worth giving her one percent of the Sun’s shares.
Well, perhaps 0.1 percent. No more than that.
With the publishers exerting their influence behind the scenes, Fifty Shades of Grey, Volume One received considerable support from the literary establishment—“the great scholars,” as it were—the moment it hit the shelves.
Some praised it from a feminist perspective:
“The book embodies progressive significance, at the very least portraying with remarkable accuracy the secret sexual fantasies of contemporary women…”
Others focused on its intellectual depth:
“The author depicts the psychological nature of submission and domination, exploring desire and self-discovery within power relationships, and so forth…”
Even the title could be subjected to profound interpretation:
“On the one hand, it serves as a metaphor for the male protagonist’s complex and ever-changing personality; on the other, it suggests that human nature is not simply black or white…”
To summarize it in Logan’s words:
“It is lustful, melodramatic trash—but it is good fiction!”
The most amusing part was that, the moment Chicagoans saw it, they felt their scalps begin to tremble.
Again?
That familiar tone—it really was the Sun’s shamelessness passed down from one generation to the next!
Absolutely shameless!
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