Quote:
Originally Posted by BookCat
I've heard of 'PC versions' of books like Huckleberry Finn having the N word removed and generally being edited to suit a modern reader's sensitivities, especially when those books are aimed at children. Also, there are many Abridged versions of long books.
|
The Bowdlerization of HUCKLEBERRY FINN (and TOM SAWYER) caused quite a ruckus.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/...he-n-word.html
(Note the comments.)
There have also been bowdlerizations of DVDs.
Difference being that the Twain books are in the PD and so (unfortunately) fair game but the DVDs aren't. Hence the lawsuits that follow:
https://arstechnica.com/information-...dlerized-dvds/
Abridgement is a different story.
Literally.
Most publishers take care to advertise the abridgement because they think it is a positive, "making the book more accessible". Publishers do odd things all the time.
Again, PD books are the biggest target but it is fairly common to see abridged audiobooks. And Reader's Digest built their whole business around anthologizing and abridging licensed content.
Weird stuff.
But it's publishers doing it, not the stores.
They know better than to get a reputation for selling polluted editions.
One advantage of reviews is they tend to highlight such defects in books.
Caveat Emptor applies.