Harry Potter, and Salinger expurgated

LR Pearson, Arts 99 (lp9616@bristol.ac.uk)
Mon, 13 Dec 1999 18:12:49 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)

On Sat, 11 Dec 1999 21:06:26 -0600 (CST) Nick Martin 
<thalius22@hotmail.com> wrote:


> 
> Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
> ???

It's by Joanne Rowling. For anyone who has missed out on this massive 
craze, the Harry Potter books are a series for children. Read them in 
order if you haven't already started (Harry Potter and the 
Philosopher's Stone; Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; Harry 
Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban [thus far]). It is quite important, 
I feel. There has been lots of hype about these books, but it is 
totally justified. And for anyone who doesn't wish to read Americanised 
versions, I suggest you buy them throughthe internet and order from an 
English website (eg Amazon.co.uk or waterstones.co.uk. I sometimes do 
this with American books and CDs which have not been released in the UK 
(we are always left till last).

These books are the ones you should be buying for 9 - 11 year old 
daughters, sons, nieces, nephews,random children in the street. If they 
are not already avid readers there is a good chance this will kick 
start them (never a bad thing). Buy them for any age, actually - my 
little sister has hardly seen her copies as I keep stealing them (I am 
19).

Back onto Salinger... the thing about Americanised versions reminded me 
of something I keep meaning to say. I have occasionally heard scathing 
comments about the way that the English versions of Salinger's books 
were expurgated without Salinger's permission. For one thing, the 
changes are not as sweeping as some have made out (I compared an 
American bought copy with my original copy and there is almost no 
difference). Secondly, although deleting the word fuck was clearly a 
fairly ridiculous act, given its innocent context, there is something 
quite nice about it being censored. It conveys the impression that 
Holden is so disturbed by the fuck yous on the wall that he can't bring 
himself to say them, not even in his mind. Not Salinger's idea, but not 
a disaster either.

Love and happy reading,

Lucy-Ruth

----------------------
LR Pearson, Arts 99
lp9616@bristol.ac.uk