Posted by Mark Dudley on January 02, 2006 at 00:23:54 from 62.255.32.12 user Whiteshill.
As a (I think) fairly intelligent, yet not intellectual (and certainly not academic) reader of Arthur Ransome, I find the previous threads on 'political correctness' hard to stomach. In my view there is, and cannot be, any reason to 'correct' a work of fiction. Ban it if you like, but do not attempt to re-interpret the words (written in the spirit and mindset of days gone by) written by an author. I wouldn't personally use the words you are all discussing, but they exist, just as the word 'gay' exists (and what a sad loss to the English language that word is!).
Leave the books alone and leave this kind of interpretation to those all too willing to denigrate others.
Mark Dudley