Anthony Comstock

Anthony Comstock, America's first professional vice fighter, takes center stage as he reshapes the NYPD's approach to morality. He battles against corruption in 19th-century New York, revealing how officers profited from vice while Comstock crusades for change. The tensions between his moral vision and the police's complicity highlight the evolving landscape of societal norms. As he gains support, Comstock's initiatives lead to the enactment of the Comstock Act, dramatically intertwining issues of morality and personal freedom, especially for women.

Anthony Comstock, the man who tried to stamp out pornography in the final decades of the 19th century, used the US Postal Service as his weapon. Gary Gerstle tells his story, exploring the power of the Post Office, the historical suppression of vice in the US, and the challenges of regulating information in the internet age.