James Bond is a beloved character in British literature and cinema, but the novels’ author, Ian Fleming, used language and attitudes that are now considered offensive. To address this issue, the publication rights holders of the James Bond books have decided to rewrite them and remove any offensive content.
The changes will be made to all of the novels in the series, including the first one, Casino Royale. While the original text will be maintained as much as possible, updates will be made to remove language that is now considered racist.
Readers will see a message in the new editions explaining that some attitudes and terms used in the original text are no longer acceptable.
For example, in Live and Let Die, Bond enters a Harlem bar and hears the audience “panting and grunting like pigs in the trough.” This language has been replaced with “Bond could feel the electrical tension in the room.”
These changes may seem small, but they are significant in removing offensive content and making the novels more accessible to modern readers.
While the James Bond novels are getting a rewrite, fans of the movie franchise are still wondering who will be the next actor to play 007. After Daniel Craig’s departure following No Time to Die, many have speculated that the next James Bond could be a woman or a person of color. However, the film’s producer has made it clear that they are taking their time to make the right choice.
As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first novel’s publication, we look forward to enjoying these timeless stories without the burden of offensive language and attitudes.
