Posted by Robert Dilley on January 19, 1999 at 22:49:31:
In Reply to: Re: AR's bad language (NB: some offensive language) posted by Malcolm Temple on January 19, 1999 at 21:48:30:
I agree with Malcolm Temple that any censorship has to be carried out at the parental level. I read aloud nearly every night to my children, though the 16- and 18-year olds now often absent themselves on their own activities. When I come to dubious vocabulary or situations, I have to decide either (a) to edit, provided it does not change the sense or (b) let it stand, and add an editorial comment. Generally I prefer the latter, as it allows for discussion. At times, we have had useful interchanges on such things as the relative rarity of people of other racial types in the UK of Ransome's times; the attitudes towards Jews in "Merchant of Venice" and "Ivanhoe" and the role of women in Jane Austen's time. What I would hate to see is the editing of AR in the name of political correctness. I remember vividly that at school we were issued with Bowdlerised copies of Shakespeare -- but the Examination Board used the unexpurgated versions. Consequently we had the great joy of going through our school copies adding in all the naughty bits. Do we want AR's work corrected -- perhaps so John shares the cooking with Susan and all decisions are carried out by democratic vote? Every piece of literature has to be seen in the context of its times, and a parent can do much to help his/her children by explaining changed contexts (my daughters, for instance, would firmly insist that John did his share of washing up).