‘Gone with the Wind’ gets trigger warning for ‘hurtful or harmful’ aspects of 19th-century slavery

Blown by the wind is now issuing a trigger warning for those affected by descriptions of slavery in the 19th century deep south.

The Daily Telegraph in Britain reports that publisher Pan Macmillan has decided that readers may find depictions of the era “hurtful or even harmful” and has added a warning to new editions of Margaret Mitchell’s classic novel – published in 1936 and brought to the screen in 1939. with Vivien Leigh and Clarke Gable as Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara and her husband Rhett Butler.

In keeping with recent editions of Agatha Christie works – edited to remove content deemed offensive in 2023 – Mitchell’s copy has not been altered, but the warning lists “shocking elements” and “romanticisation of a shocking era in our his.” Story. .”

It adds: “The novel contains depictions of unacceptable practices, racist and stereotypical images, and disturbing themes, characterizations, language and imagery.”

The new editions of the novel will also include a foreword by historical novelist Philippa Gregory, explaining the “white supremacy” aspects of the story.

The Telegraph reports that the publisher asked Gregory, a white writer, to provide the essay “to avoid imposing emotional labor on a minority writer.”