“Destruction of words is an amazing thing”: the network criticized the copyright holders for editing books about James Bond

The network reacted negatively to the news that Ian Fleming's James Bond novels were edited due to racist content.

We are talking about phrases that today are considered offensive to certain people.

Representatives of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, the copyright holders of the Bond series, told The Telegraph that, when reviewing the books, they decided to replace a number of racial terms with current-standard expressions, as well as to remove certain words.

So, for example, the well-known derogatory term describing an African American was almost completely removed from Fleming's works.

Instead, the reprinted books will feature less scandalous phrases such as "black man".

In addition, several books, notably Thunderball (1961), the short story Quantum of Solace (1959), and Goldfinger (1959), removed ethnic groups.

On Twitter, users are actively commenting on the news about well-known novels edited in a modern way.

Most criticize Ian Fleming Publications Ltd for this decision, believing that people who do not like the book or the statements in it can simply not read it.

“If you don’t like a book, don’t read it,” one of the messages said.

“Can't you just not buy books if you find them offensive?

I suspect that in order to ennoble history, many works by Samuel Clemens (Real name of Mark Twain. -

) will be edited.

If they change the content of books, their titles should also be changed in order to preserve the author's intention when writing a book, ”the user was indignant.

“We need to put an end to this.

I'm sick of this revival agenda.

No one is forcing sensitive people to read what they find offensive.

Stop spoiling everything for the rest of the sane and well-adapted (for life. -

) people, ”the Twitter post said.  

"What's next: the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Bible?" - ask the question in the social network.

One commenter wonders if Ian Fleming himself was African American, would his books be rewritten.

The author of the post refers to famous rap artists who often use words in their tracks that are considered offensive to the African American people.

"Literary lynching.

Many black artists, comedians, etc.

they use the n-word with impunity, while people of non-African descent are fired for the mere mention of it, although it is in the dictionary.

The half-black Drake uses the word all the time in his songs.

Perhaps if Ian Fleming was half black, then his books would not be touched? ”, The user writes.

Often, in relation to this situation, Twitter users mention George Orwell's cult novel "1984", hinting at the similarity of the events taking place.

“The destruction of words is an amazing thing,” George Orwell, one of the commentators quotes the work.

“Nothing to see here, the usual Orwellian rewriting of history,” said another person.

It is reported that the publishing house plans to release books with changes in April and coincide with the 70th anniversary of the publication of the first novel in the James Bond series.

In addition, each work will be accompanied by a statement from Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.

In it, publisher representatives will inform readers that the book was written at a time when terms and views that modern readers might find offensive were commonplace.

There will also be a postscript about changes in the text of the book.

As explained by the publishers themselves, they decided on corrections because of Fleming himself, who once initiated the changes in Live and Let Die. 

This is not the first time many famous books have been rewritten.

Earlier in February, the network also criticized British publisher Puffin Books for editing books by writer Roald Dahl.

Many phrases related to mental health, gender and race, as well as physique, were cut or rewritten from the author's works.

For example, from the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the publishers removed the words "ugly" and "crazy", the "very fat boy" August Gloop turned into just a "huge" boy, and the Oompa-Loompas became gender neutral in the reprint.

The rewriting of cultural history also affected painting, but the reason was the political situation in the world.

So, in early February, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, under pressure from Ukrainian activists, renamed the painting “Russian Dancer” by the French artist Edgar Degas into “Dancer in Ukrainian Dress”.

In addition, representatives of the Metropolitan Museum on the pages describing the works of Ilya Repin and Ivan Aivazovsky called the artists Ukrainians.

American museum workers turned into a "Ukrainian" and Arkhip Kuindzhi in reference to the painting "Red Sunset".