Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew H.
I don't know about Nancy Drew, but that is definitely a problem with the older Hardy Boys books. (I only read the newer version as a kid, though). Unfortunately, when the books were rewritten in the late 50's, they also dumbed them down quite a bit - the originals written in the late 20's and 30's were more "literate." But did not have to compete with television.
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Yes, Nancy was filled with stereotypes, and yes, Nancy was dumbed down. The original Nancys are fun and exciting. Original Nancy has a fine disregard for the Fourth Amendment and obeys the law only when it's convenient for her. She sneers at police, who won't arrest a suspect on her word alone, but are stupid enough to insist on evidence. When the racial stereotypes were removed, these other aspects were also sanitized, turning Nancy into a paragon of virtue and an annoying goody two-shoes.
In fact, some of the stories were completely redone; the title is (usually) the same, but nothing else (e.g.,
The Secret at Shadow Ranch, which was revised to
The Secret OF Shadow Ranch, a completely different story). A few of the books were not rewritten in that great purge--
The Clue in the Jewel Box is one; it's one of my favorites.