The James Bond novels were edited to remove racist content prior to the series’ release

Just a week or so after news broke that several books in the Roald Dal library, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, MatildaAND Witcheshave reportedly been edited to remove insensitive verbiage, we’re now hearing that some of the James Bond novels are also getting a makeover.

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, which owns the rights to the novels, has decided to remove racist content from the books on which the hit film series is based as the property prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary. Many of the books have been edited, including Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Thunderball, Quantum of SolaceAND Golden finger.

In addition to the changes, every reprinted book will include a disclaimer that reads:

“This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes that might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace. Numerous updates have been made to this edition, while keeping as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it was set.”

According to a new report from The Telegraph, racist language has been removed across the board.

Ian Fleming Publications said in a statement to The Telegraph:

“We at Ian Fleming Publications reviewed the text of the original Bond books and decided our best course of action was to follow Ian’s lead. We made changes to ‘Live and Let Die’ which he authorized himself” .

“Following Ian’s approach, we looked at instances of different racial terms in the books and either removed a number of individual words or swapped them for terms that are more accepted today but in keeping with the time period in which the books were written. We encourage people to read the books themselves when the new paperbacks are released in April.”

I feel outrage at the changes and am totally against book bans, but I think that when there is racist language that is not relevant to the story, there is no harm in removing it. What do you think?

via: CB