New edition of 'Huckleberry Finn' to lose the 'n' word

EW ^ | 1/3/11 | Keith Staskiewicz

[MissTed]

What is a word worth? According to Publishers Weekly, NewSouth Books’ upcoming edition of Mark Twain’s seminal novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will remove all instances of the “n” word—I’ll give you a hint, it’s not nonesuch—present in the text and replace it with slave. The new book will also remove usage of the word Injun. The effort is spearheaded by Twain expert Alan Gribben, who says his PC-ified version is not an attempt to neuter the classic but rather to update it. “Race matters in these books,” Gribben told PW. “It’s a matter of how you express that in the 21st century.”

Unsurprisingly, there are already those who are yelling “Censorship!” as well as others with thesauruses yelling “Bowdlerization!” and “Comstockery!” Their position is understandable: Twain’s book has been one of the most often misunderstood novels of all time, continuously being accused of perpetuating the prejudiced attitudes it is criticizing, and it’s a little disheartening to see a cave-in to those who would ban a book simply because it requires context. On the other hand, if this puts the book into the hands of kids who would not otherwise be allowed to read it due to forces beyond their control (overprotective parents and the school boards they frighten), then maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge. It’s unfortunate, but is it really any more catastrophic than a TBS-friendly re-edit of The Godfather, you down-and-dirty melon farmer? The original product is changed for the benefit of those who, for one reason or another, are not mature enough to handle it, but as long as it doesn’t affect the original, is there a problem?

[MissTed]

On the other hand, if this puts the book into the hands of kids who would not otherwise be allowed to read it due to forces beyond their control (overprotective parents and the school boards they frighten), then maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge.

Our language continues to shrink.

[ClearCase_guy]

“Huckleberry Finn” is a living document, and will eventually tell the touching story of how young Huck and his lover Jim waged a people’s war against the Wall St fatcats.

[Lazamataz]

PART OF THE WHOLE POINT of the DAMNED BOOK was that Huck Finn called the dude, Nigger Jim, with derision -- but then learned respect and love for him.

I mean, Just Damn.

[WayneS]

On the other hand, if this puts the book into the hands of kids who would not otherwise be allowed to read it due to forces beyond their control (overprotective parents and the school boards they frighten), then maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge.

In other words: "In the spirit of 'Neville Chamberlains' everywhere, I issue this call for APPEASEMENT to the forces of censorship!"

[The_Victor]

When one sanitizes historic fiction, you remove the history and are left with fiction.

[Le Chien Rouge]

Mark Twain was completely against racial prejudice, segregation, lynchings, and the accepted belief that blacks were sub-human. Twain portrayed Jim as good, human, and anxious for freedom.

Seems like the left are happy only when blacks are on LEFTY plantations rather than desiring their own individual liberty.

[cripplecreek]

On the other hand, if this puts the book into the hands of kids who would not otherwise be allowed to read it due to forces beyond their control (overprotective parents and the school boards they frighten), then maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge.

Lets see how quick they are to judge if we try a rewrite of Darwin's "Orgin of species".

[2banana]

Yet - there are literally thousands of rap CD’s that glorify the n-word.

[Ev Reeman]

One short step to Nazism and the burning of books deemed offensive by the government.

[Sudetenland]

This is an obscenity. It is worse than book burning, to edit with words of a classic because it doesn't fit with your politically correct paradigm is the ultimate in corruption.

Huckleberry Finn is a fictionalized, but fairly accurate portrayal of a time in American history and the culture in which Samuel Clemmons grew up.

This is more liberal do-gooding by white liberals who live in white guilt. It is reminiscent of New Orleans back when the blocked of and hid the old slave auction blocks. Pretending something didn't happen is worse than endorsing the offending behavior. How can people learn if they are protected from the truth?

Liberals are the ultimate racists.

[Psycho_Bunny]

” The effort is spearheaded by Twain expert Alan Gribben”

Um. I got news for you, Alan: if you’re changing Twains work, you’re not a Twain expert.

[netmilsmom]

Disney did this in the 60's.

[WayneS]

Just to be safe, maybe we should start buying up copies of the current editions of the book (I only have three different editions of it at home right now) -- possibly as early as later today.

I wonder how many hardback copies the Borders in Warrenton has on hand right now...

;-)

[Constitution Day]

But will it still have Authentic Frontier Gibberish?

[Longdriver]

“I mean, Just Damn.”

---

Agreed. You’d think that idiot libs would’ve taken enough English Lit. classes to have learned this.

[WayneS]

The effort is spearheaded by Twain expert Alan Gribben, who says his PC-ified version is not an attempt to neuter the classic but rather to update it. “Race matters in these books,” Gribben told PW. “It’s a matter of how you express that in the 21st century.”

Mark Twain did not WRITE the book in the 21st Century, you brain-dead moon-bat! Twain "expert", indeed! You should be utterly and completely ashamed of yourself, Mr. Gribben.

[achilles2000]

Ah! Censorship is now just “updating”. Orwellian...

[DManA]

Can’t use the word “lynch” either. Take that scene out.

[Prospero]

“Go ahead and stick that foot through the Rembrandt.”

[4yearlurker]

Whats next? Dickens and “The ghost of Holiday past?”