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Maybe they should have special editions like Large Print; eg, Modified for Sensitive Readers Edition; Original Text Edition. Big letter M or O on the front.
More seriously, I prefer that books which have been in print for a long time should not be mucked about with willy-nilly for some surely transient sensitivities. I have three pbook editions of Agatha Christie's notoriously titled Ten Little Niggers, which became Ten Little Indians, and finally Then There were None.
This was one of her nursery rhyme inspired stories and the original rhyme, which I can just remember from my childhood, was indeed Ten Little Niggers. A nonsense rhyme, rather like 12 Green Bottles. The book had the original nursery rhyme in it, and the story revolves around it.
Change the title, perhaps. But the text? No. Rate it O for original (or maybe Offensive) and move on.
Some years ago John D MacDonald brought out a collection of his earliest short stories, "The Good Old Stuff". He updated cultural references, and a few other things, which to my mind didn't help. All that was really needed was to put the original publication date under the title of each story, and the reader can work it all out for themselves.
When some of the early Saint novels were reprinted, Leslie Charteris noted in a preface that he had contemplated updating them, since at the time they were written the fastest way from New York to London was by passenger liner, but decided against it. He invited the readers to read them as though they were historical novels.
I can remember my surprise as a 12-year-old, reading King Solomon's Mines for the first time, when I got to the start of the trek and the adventurers were setting off on foot. I was staggered. What about trucks, Jeeps, helicopters? I looked at the copyright date in the front; aha! Now knowing the era, I dived back into the book, happy.
Maybe publishers should give their readers a little credit for general knowledge.
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