The Public vs. M. Gustave Flaubert

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Public vs. M. Gustave Flaubert, by VariousThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The Public vs. M. Gustave FlaubertAuthor: VariousRelease Date: January 10, 2004 [EBook #10666]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PUBLIC VS. M. GUSTAVE FLAUBERT ***Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Rosanna Yuen and PG Distributed ProofreadersTHE PUBLIC vs. M. GUSTAVE FLAUBERTThe folios referred to in the trial are the folios either of the Revue de Paris or of the first edition of the book.—EDITOR.Speech of the Prosecuting Attorney,M. ERNEST PINARDGentlemen, in entering upon this debate, the Public Attorney is in the presence of a difficulty which he cannot ignore. Itcannot be put even in the nature of a condemnation, since offenses to public morals and to religion are somewhat vagueand elastic expressions which it would be necessary to define precisely. Nevertheless, when we speak to right-minded,practical men we are sure of being sufficiently understood to distinguish whether a certain page of a book carries anattack against religion and morals or not. The difficulty is not in arousing a prejudice, it is far more in explaining the workof which you are to judge. It deals entirely with romance. If it were ...