James Bond has been censored, not stirred.
A report indicates that Ian Fleming’s ribald James Bond books have been rewritten to accommodate 21st century sensitivities, removing a number of racial references ahead of the 70th anniversary this spring, The Sunday Telegraph reported. The books are expected to be republished in April.
Fleming’s thrillers — from Casino Royale to Octopussy — will be rereleased this spring after Ian Fleming Publications, the company that owns the literary rights to Fleming’s work, commissioned a review by “sensitivity readers.”
The news comes amid increased scrutiny in the publishing industry. The Roald Dahl series, including the beloved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” recently were revealed to have undergone a similar review.
The re-published Bond novels will include a disclaimer: “This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace. A number of updates have been made in this edition, while keeping as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it is set.”
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ridiculous…every generation will rewrite what was written to conform to standards….1984 forever
This is stupid. You cannot change history. Sensitive readers! Really??!!! No – the books and movies should be kept originally. This is wrong.
I think it’s censorship, and I’m against it! This kind of bowdlerization needs to be exposed and fought. I wish there was a way to pass a law forbidding publishers from changing books after the author has died and can’t give his/her permission.
Yes!! Stupid censorship!!!
This is censorship. Readers/fans need to know/have a sense of what it was truly like in the days when the books were written. That is so important. They are erasing a part of the ‘local color’, if you will. It’s going too far. I’m an African American female in her seventies, highly educated and highly read. I’m also a writer. I am not for any cleaning up of the racisms in books like Tom Sawyer or The Last of the Mohicans, or whatever. It’s the same as whitewashing history.
Sigh…