I refer to this article here.

Now, whatever you may think of Enid Blyton as a writer, I think it's dreadful they plan on re-working her, even if she is seen to be xenophobic, sexist and racist by today's standards. She is reflective of her time after all.

Can you imagine re-working the works of Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist let's say, because we no longer have workhouses and the Poor Law? Deeming his works to be unsuitable to the modern standard, and changing them to suit modernity?

Is it just me who disagrees with this modern treatment of Blyton?

As someone who wants to be a writer, I would hate it if my work was altered after my death because I wrote in the context of the world I lived in. Isn't that part of what writing is about anyway - sharing experiences that may differ from the reader's comfort zone? Should censorship like this be allowed?

Let me know what you think!

What happened to good old Billy Bunter? I loved those stories as a kid. I didn't care that he was a fat, dishonest, greedy lump, I just wanted to be at Greyfriars with the remove. Good memories, but try and find a Bunter book today? - no chance. It makes me boil!

But the Chalet School books had glamorous European locations, strong female characters from multicultural backgrounds, anti-Nazi plotlines... Better still, they were a Damn Good Read.

What's un-PC about the Chalet School books?

Noddy Goes To School (1952):

The little golliwog stayed and watched Noddy get out his hose and begin to wash his car.

"When are you going to clean its teeth and brush its hair?" asked the cheeky golliwog.

"I'll wash your face and clean your teeth first!" said Noddy fiercely, and turned the hose on to the small golliwog. The water splashed into his face and made him yell.

Mrs Tubby Bear came over from next door and laughed. "That just serves the cheeky fellow right," she said. "He's a scamp. He keeps coming and knocking at my door and then running away. It's clever of you to wash his face for him so suddenly!"

Noddy felt pleased. He watched the little golliwog running down the street, water dripping from his naughty black face.




"...the likes of NickP can rant on if they like"

I occasionally rant on at http://amonsterinthemirror.blogspot.com/

I think it is horrible what this world is coming to. You have to "lie" to express yourself. How dare we offend anyone. History is history. We can't change it but we can learn from it. If you're writing a book about slaves or child labor in the 1700, 1800's, then you have to understand the way life was back then and you have to give your characters those attributes and traits that make us either dispise or love them.

Everything we do or say anymore has to be politically correct and it really irritates the crap out of me. why are we living in fear of expressing our opinions? Supression, I say. Could you imagine Orwell's 1984 trying to get published now? It wouldn't happen. The world is not kind and every day it is getting worse because we are not allowed to speak up for fear we may step on someone's toes. Our freedom to speak what we feel is slowly slipping away. Is it any wonder that the written word is under attack as well? It's sickening...

Sorry. I'll get off my soap box. Jen

"There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts." Charles Dickens

JD

I remember reading to my eldest son the line, 'One day Noddy was walking down the road feeling a little queer'

How's that for non pc?

ps It was a long time ago.

I respectfully disagree with you. I have and continue to let my children read "racist" material. Books do not make you racist anymore than playing a video game will turn you into a gangster. I think it is important for children to understand the way things were so that "times" never go back that way. To remove it from their sights, IMO, is offensive to them, as if saying they are not old enough to understand. Children do understand the difference.

The children who are avid readers are usually not the sort of persons who will end up committing some sort of racist act. In most cases, those children have grown up in homes with parents who have a love for literature. I read Twain, Salinger, Poe, Yerby and so many others when I was still in single digit ages. I KNEW the difference between right and wrong. I knew we didn't own slaves. But what I learned was it was not good to treat people differently because of color, etc.
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I am offended nowadays because young children are given books on same-sex parents, the idea that homosexuality is ok. Perhaps it is, but using your thinking, isn't it just too much for a young child to understand? I would much rather my child read Tom Sawyer than Bobby Has Two Mommies. I don't mean that comment racially or prejudiciously - just that you're always going to have content you don't want to expose your kids to. It is up to us as parents, not schools, publishers, etc., to provide that direction and "censorship". Thankfully, I had parents who encouraged me to read anything and everything and I am a better rounded individual to this day because of it. Hopefully, I have passed this along to my children - two of which are honors students in the universities they attend and two who are honor students in both middle and high school. When they are assigned books from school - guess what? I'm right there reading it with them. This is what will shape their characters - not the fact they read the book or the content. JMO. Jen

"There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts." Charles Dickens