The Seven Minutes
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Products | Books |
The Seven Minutes is a novel released in 1969 by Irving Wallace through Simon & Schuster. This work delves into the influence of pornography and the controversies surrounding freedom of speech within the framework of a fictional courtroom drama.
Synopsis
The story centers on The Seven Minutes, a novel portraying a woman’s reflections during seven minutes of sexual intimacy, which is deemed highly offensive and ignites debates about censorship. Bookseller Ben Fremont sells this controversial book to college student Jeffrey Griffith, who is subsequently charged with rape and murder, with the book discovered among his belongings.
District Attorney Elmo Duncan uses this incident to associate the book with Griffith’s offenses, pursuing a campaign to prohibit the text and criminalize its possession on moralistic grounds. Duncan’s efforts receive covert financial backing from businessman Luther Yerkes, who opposes Senator Thomas Bainbridge in an upcoming election. Fremont faces arrest for distributing the book, while legal proceedings also target publisher Phillip Sanford, who refuses to disclose the true identity of the author J.J. Jadway, asserting that Jadway died years prior in Europe.
Sanford regards the book as a legitimate artistic expression and resists censorship by hiring attorney Michael Barrett to defend Fremont. The resulting obscenity trial explores the tension between creative freedom, societal ethics, and individual rights.
In an unexpected turn, Senator Bainbridge testifies in support of the book, revealing that he authored it inspired by a pivotal sexual experience. To maintain anonymity at the time, he created the pseudonym J.J. Jadway and instructed Sanford to circulate rumors of Jadway’s death. Bainbridge advocates for distinguishing between sexual transparency as beneficial to society and exploitative harm.
Following Bainbridge’s testimony, the jury concludes that the book is not obscene. Although the prosecution plans to pursue further trials elsewhere, Barrett argues that limiting private reading choices and blaming art for social problems overlooks more profound societal challenges.
Historical basis
The Seven Minutes appears to draw inspiration from the early 1960s prosecution of New York City bookseller Irwin Weisfeld. Weisfeld’s widely publicized case (New York v. Bookcase, Inc.) played a significant role in shaping 1st amendment jurisprudence concerning literary protections.
Adaptation
In 1971, the novel was adapted into a film titled The Seven Minutes, directed by Russ Meyer and featuring performances by Philip Carey, John Carradine, Wayne Maunder, Tom Selleck, and Yvonne De Carlo.
In popular culture
Olympia Press, under the leadership of Maurice Girodias, who was interviewed during Wallace’s research process, published The Original Seven Minutes by J.J. Jadway—mirroring Wallace’s fictional work. After facing legal challenges, it was withdrawn and later reissued as The Seven Erotic Minutes with all references to Wallace removed.
In the concluding section of Eleven Minutes, author Paulo Coelho acknowledges Irving Wallace’s novel as an influence.