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authors who re-work books
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From: Tattercoat at aol.com <Tattercoat>
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 13:05:47 EST
In a message dated 11/30/04 11:24:23 PM, ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu writes:
tly
!
One of Pamela Travers' Mary Poppins books (the one where the children travel to different parts of the world) had sections rewritten in later editions to eliminate offensive stereotypes. And Hugh Lofting's descendants also authorized changes to the Prince Bumpo chapter of the Story of Doctor Dolittle in which the Prince begs the Doctor to make him white so he can win a princess and the Doctor tricks the Prince with bleach. Dab?b the duck concludes, "He'd never be anything but ugly, no matter what color he was made." New editions do not include the offensive illustrations of the African prince.
One could see these changes in two ways--the elimination of unintended and hurtful stereotypes or as financially motivated means of keeping dated books current.
I've used both of these books in university Children's Literature classes to stimulate discussion of social attitudes as reflected in children's literature. They provide important information about how attitudes are formed and change over time
I don't know if Jim's tone is ironic or not, but as an author I'm appalled at the idea that books should be reworked when "flaws become apparent." That reeks of potential censorship to me! Imagine if the "flaw" were
"unacceptable" political views. As a children's book reviewer, though, I think with
sadness of otherwise good books that carry unconscious racism and other flaws that have stood in the way of a good recommendation. Of course, the realities of publishing do not allow revisiting and reworking books once they are published, unless they are otherwise well loved classics like P. L. Travers' and Hugh Loftings' books (The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle won the Newbery Award in 1922).
Carolyn Lehman Humboldt State University
Received on Wed 01 Dec 2004 12:05:47 PM CST
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 13:05:47 EST
In a message dated 11/30/04 11:24:23 PM, ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu writes:
tly
!
One of Pamela Travers' Mary Poppins books (the one where the children travel to different parts of the world) had sections rewritten in later editions to eliminate offensive stereotypes. And Hugh Lofting's descendants also authorized changes to the Prince Bumpo chapter of the Story of Doctor Dolittle in which the Prince begs the Doctor to make him white so he can win a princess and the Doctor tricks the Prince with bleach. Dab?b the duck concludes, "He'd never be anything but ugly, no matter what color he was made." New editions do not include the offensive illustrations of the African prince.
One could see these changes in two ways--the elimination of unintended and hurtful stereotypes or as financially motivated means of keeping dated books current.
I've used both of these books in university Children's Literature classes to stimulate discussion of social attitudes as reflected in children's literature. They provide important information about how attitudes are formed and change over time
I don't know if Jim's tone is ironic or not, but as an author I'm appalled at the idea that books should be reworked when "flaws become apparent." That reeks of potential censorship to me! Imagine if the "flaw" were
"unacceptable" political views. As a children's book reviewer, though, I think with
sadness of otherwise good books that carry unconscious racism and other flaws that have stood in the way of a good recommendation. Of course, the realities of publishing do not allow revisiting and reworking books once they are published, unless they are otherwise well loved classics like P. L. Travers' and Hugh Loftings' books (The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle won the Newbery Award in 1922).
Carolyn Lehman Humboldt State University
Received on Wed 01 Dec 2004 12:05:47 PM CST
