Everett Collection
James Bond was censored, not stirred.
A report suggests that Ian Fleming’s bawdy James Bond books have been rewritten to suit 21st-century sensibilities, with a number of racist references removed ahead of the 70th anniversary this spring, The Sunday reported Telegraph. The books are expected to be reissued in April.
Fleming’s thrillers – from Casino Royale to Octopussy – will be re-released this spring after Ian Fleming Publications, the company that owns the literary rights to Fleming’s work, commissioned a “sensitive reader” review.
The Fleming Bond series is just the latest in an increasingly censored publishing industry. The Roald Dahl series, including Beloved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was recently revealed to have suffered a similar fate.
The modified Bond novels will include a disclaimer: “This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes that modern readers might find offensive were commonplace. A number of updates have been made in this edition, keeping as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it is set.”