[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] imagine your favorite book or story what
imagine your favorite book or story what
imagine your favorite book or story what if you never read it what if the ending
if you never read it what if the ending
if you never read it what if the ending were different from the one you know how
were different from the one you know how
were different from the one you know how would that change your feelings about
would that change your feelings about
would that change your feelings about the work or about the author about the
the work or about the author about the
the work or about the author about the characters when we hear the word
characters when we hear the word
characters when we hear the word censorship we think of the most dramatic
censorship we think of the most dramatic
censorship we think of the most dramatic examples of book burning authors thrown
examples of book burning authors thrown
examples of book burning authors thrown into jail the best works of literature
into jail the best works of literature
into jail the best works of literature suppressed forever we can recite the
suppressed forever we can recite the
suppressed forever we can recite the titles of famously censored works like
titles of famously censored works like
titles of famously censored works like the adventures of huckleberry finn or
the adventures of huckleberry finn or
the adventures of huckleberry finn or the grapes of wrath of mice and men
the grapes of wrath of mice and men
the grapes of wrath of mice and men lolita even Harry Potter yes Harry
lolita even Harry Potter yes Harry
lolita even Harry Potter yes Harry Potter believe it or not was censored
Potter believe it or not was censored
Potter believe it or not was censored for it satanic elements for exposing
for it satanic elements for exposing
for it satanic elements for exposing children to the occult it is hard to
children to the occult it is hard to
children to the occult it is hard to imagine that books that seem so harmless
imagine that books that seem so harmless
imagine that books that seem so harmless to us now once caused riots leading to
to us now once caused riots leading to
to us now once caused riots leading to the death threats on the life of the
the death threats on the life of the
the death threats on the life of the author all because they were considered
author all because they were considered
author all because they were considered too dangerous for the reading public
too dangerous for the reading public
too dangerous for the reading public take for example Maurice index where the
take for example Maurice index where the
take for example Maurice index where the wild things are or dr. Seuss’s hop on
wild things are or dr. Seuss’s hop on
wild things are or dr. Seuss’s hop on pop beloved children’s books considered
pop beloved children’s books considered
pop beloved children’s books considered too violent or too obscene or age
too violent or too obscene or age
too violent or too obscene or age inappropriate for young readers hop on
inappropriate for young readers hop on
inappropriate for young readers hop on pop was removed from library shelves
pop was removed from library shelves
pop was removed from library shelves because it purportedly encouraged
because it purportedly encouraged
because it purportedly encouraged violence against fathers this is a book
violence against fathers this is a book
violence against fathers this is a book that former first lady Laura Bush told
that former first lady Laura Bush told
that former first lady Laura Bush told Time magazine in 2006 was her favorite
Time magazine in 2006 was her favorite
Time magazine in 2006 was her favorite book of the year precisely because it
book of the year precisely because it
book of the year precisely because it evoked all kinds of warm memories of her
evoked all kinds of warm memories of her
evoked all kinds of warm memories of her husband reading to her daughters at
husband reading to her daughters at
husband reading to her daughters at bedtime you just never know how a book
bedtime you just never know how a book
bedtime you just never know how a book will be received once it’s out there
will be received once it’s out there
will be received once it’s out there because we can’t control the sensors
because we can’t control the sensors
because we can’t control the sensors interpretation of a book but my point is
interpretation of a book but my point is
interpretation of a book but my point is that in crucial ways books do shape our
that in crucial ways books do shape our
that in crucial ways books do shape our lives as children and in some ways we
lives as children and in some ways we
lives as children and in some ways we can’t imagine our lives today without
can’t imagine our lives today without
can’t imagine our lives today without them and yet some
them and yet some
them and yet some although written came very close to
although written came very close to
although written came very close to being forbidden to readers forever now
being forbidden to readers forever now
being forbidden to readers forever now we’re all familiar with the kind of
we’re all familiar with the kind of
we’re all familiar with the kind of censorship in which a state government
censorship in which a state government
censorship in which a state government decides a book should not be read but
decides a book should not be read but
decides a book should not be read but what if your favorite book were altered
what if your favorite book were altered
what if your favorite book were altered even before it became the book you know
even before it became the book you know
even before it became the book you know what if it started out as something
what if it started out as something
what if it started out as something quite different from the book that you
quite different from the book that you
quite different from the book that you read and that you love what if it
read and that you love what if it
read and that you love what if it contained language or scenes which which
contained language or scenes which which
contained language or scenes which which shocked you or stunned you horrified you
shocked you or stunned you horrified you
shocked you or stunned you horrified you what if it made you cry instead of laugh
what if it made you cry instead of laugh
what if it made you cry instead of laugh at its ending I’m talking about a kind
at its ending I’m talking about a kind
at its ending I’m talking about a kind of censorship that most readers are not
of censorship that most readers are not
of censorship that most readers are not aware of because it happens while a book
aware of because it happens while a book
aware of because it happens while a book is not yet a book and in manuscript form
is not yet a book and in manuscript form
is not yet a book and in manuscript form editorial sensors are the editors and
editorial sensors are the editors and
editorial sensors are the editors and the publishers who take the raw literary
the publishers who take the raw literary
the publishers who take the raw literary material and alter it more fit sometimes
material and alter it more fit sometimes
material and alter it more fit sometimes they change it to the point where it
they change it to the point where it
they change it to the point where it bears very little resemblance to the
bears very little resemblance to the
bears very little resemblance to the original now there are some famous cases
original now there are some famous cases
original now there are some famous cases of editorial censorship that might
of editorial censorship that might
of editorial censorship that might surprise you the Brothers Grimm so they
surprise you the Brothers Grimm so they
surprise you the Brothers Grimm so they collected and retold some of our
collected and retold some of our
collected and retold some of our favorite fairy tales from childhood like
favorite fairy tales from childhood like
favorite fairy tales from childhood like Rapunzel Cinderella Sleeping Beauty Snow
Rapunzel Cinderella Sleeping Beauty Snow
Rapunzel Cinderella Sleeping Beauty Snow White just to name a few yet the reading
White just to name a few yet the reading
White just to name a few yet the reading public has only recently discovered the
public has only recently discovered the
public has only recently discovered the first published editions of these tales
first published editions of these tales
first published editions of these tales and originally these stories were very
and originally these stories were very
and originally these stories were very dark cannibalism incest fratricide I’m
dark cannibalism incest fratricide I’m
dark cannibalism incest fratricide I’m saying they were grim but we know from
saying they were grim but we know from
saying they were grim but we know from these first editions that these authors
these first editions that these authors
these first editions that these authors were not censored for instance in
were not censored for instance in
were not censored for instance in Rapunzel Wilhelm Grimm shows something
Rapunzel Wilhelm Grimm shows something
Rapunzel Wilhelm Grimm shows something happening between the prince and the
happening between the prince and the
happening between the prince and the girl and the tower that is not so
girl and the tower that is not so
girl and the tower that is not so innocent and these details were edited
innocent and these details were edited
innocent and these details were edited out in subsequent editions their stories
out in subsequent editions their stories
out in subsequent editions their stories were full of violence and sex and horror
were full of violence and sex and horror
were full of violence and sex and horror but we have to remember that children
but we have to remember that children
but we have to remember that children were not the intended audience and also
were not the intended audience and also
were not the intended audience and also the Brothers Grimm were not the authors
the Brothers Grimm were not the authors
the Brothers Grimm were not the authors of these tales they merely Colette
of these tales they merely Colette
of these tales they merely Colette did them these were stories handed down
did them these were stories handed down
did them these were stories handed down from generations and of generations in
from generations and of generations in
from generations and of generations in Europe they merely collected them in one
Europe they merely collected them in one
Europe they merely collected them in one place now the Grimm stories we know
place now the Grimm stories we know
place now the Grimm stories we know today have been sanitized just in order
today have been sanitized just in order
today have been sanitized just in order to be read to children at bedtime
to be read to children at bedtime
to be read to children at bedtime censorship happened at the level of
censorship happened at the level of
censorship happened at the level of editors we might think thank goodness
editors we might think thank goodness
editors we might think thank goodness those editors intervened because I know
those editors intervened because I know
those editors intervened because I know that I would have been one very
that I would have been one very
that I would have been one very traumatized five-year-old a more recent
traumatized five-year-old a more recent
traumatized five-year-old a more recent example of this kind of censorship
example of this kind of censorship
example of this kind of censorship concerns the Nobel prize-winning author
concerns the Nobel prize-winning author
concerns the Nobel prize-winning author Albert Camus he was now girion born
Albert Camus he was now girion born
Albert Camus he was now girion born Frenchman writing in the 1940s 1950s
Frenchman writing in the 1940s 1950s
Frenchman writing in the 1940s 1950s just after World War two he wrote plays
just after World War two he wrote plays
just after World War two he wrote plays he wrote novels he wrote short stories
he wrote novels he wrote short stories
he wrote novels he wrote short stories philosophical essays he was an extremely
philosophical essays he was an extremely
philosophical essays he was an extremely popular writer in France his novel the
popular writer in France his novel the
popular writer in France his novel the stranger l’étoile J sold millions of
stranger l’étoile J sold millions of
stranger l’étoile J sold millions of copies worldwide and it was translated
copies worldwide and it was translated
copies worldwide and it was translated four times into English even the British
four times into English even the British
four times into English even the British band The Cure wrote a song based on the
band The Cure wrote a song based on the
band The Cure wrote a song based on the novel killing an arab it is considered
novel killing an arab it is considered
novel killing an arab it is considered one of the most influential books of our
one of the most influential books of our
one of the most influential books of our time the Nobel Prize Committee awarded
time the Nobel Prize Committee awarded
time the Nobel Prize Committee awarded him dishonor 1957 for important literary
him dishonor 1957 for important literary
him dishonor 1957 for important literary production which with clear-sighted
production which with clear-sighted
production which with clear-sighted earnestness illuminates the problems of
earnestness illuminates the problems of
earnestness illuminates the problems of the human conscience in our times he was
the human conscience in our times he was
the human conscience in our times he was known for his philosophy of the absurd
known for his philosophy of the absurd
known for his philosophy of the absurd which in this country is unknown as
which in this country is unknown as
which in this country is unknown as existentialism a label he hated he was
existentialism a label he hated he was
existentialism a label he hated he was also known quickly in this country as a
also known quickly in this country as a
also known quickly in this country as a European writer aligned with European
European writer aligned with European
European writer aligned with European values and expressing a kind of European
values and expressing a kind of European
values and expressing a kind of European sensibility but in reality he was a man
sensibility but in reality he was a man
sensibility but in reality he was a man of the Mediterranean he had more in
of the Mediterranean he had more in
of the Mediterranean he had more in common with other French colonists
common with other French colonists
common with other French colonists living in Algeria at this time just on
living in Algeria at this time just on
living in Algeria at this time just on the brink of separating definitively
the brink of separating definitively
the brink of separating definitively from France he was the furthest thing
from France he was the furthest thing
from France he was the furthest thing from a French existentialist but this is
from a French existentialist but this is
from a French existentialist but this is what his editor Blanche Knopf thought
what his editor Blanche Knopf thought
what his editor Blanche Knopf thought would sell best so this is how she
would sell best so this is how she
would sell best so this is how she marketed him to his new english-speaking
marketed him to his new english-speaking
marketed him to his new english-speaking audience and here’s a picture of Blanche
audience and here’s a picture of Blanche
audience and here’s a picture of Blanche arm-in-arm with cameo at the Nobel Prize
arm-in-arm with cameo at the Nobel Prize
arm-in-arm with cameo at the Nobel Prize ceremony
ceremony
ceremony 1957 if we take a look at some of the
1957 if we take a look at some of the
1957 if we take a look at some of the letters that she exchanged with chem
letters that she exchanged with chem
letters that she exchanged with chem Moo’s literary agent we can see that she
Moo’s literary agent we can see that she
Moo’s literary agent we can see that she cared less about accurate translations
cared less about accurate translations
cared less about accurate translations and a faithful representation of the
and a faithful representation of the
and a faithful representation of the author and more about selling books she
author and more about selling books she
author and more about selling books she wrote in one letter dated July 9th 1945
wrote in one letter dated July 9th 1945
wrote in one letter dated July 9th 1945 as for the translation of cow Moos
as for the translation of cow Moos
as for the translation of cow Moos Latrell J I should certainly in
Latrell J I should certainly in
Latrell J I should certainly in principle oppose showing a translation
principle oppose showing a translation
principle oppose showing a translation to the author of the original I cannot
to the author of the original I cannot
to the author of the original I cannot think of an easier way to generate
think of an easier way to generate
think of an easier way to generate trouble a little knowledge is dangerous
trouble a little knowledge is dangerous
trouble a little knowledge is dangerous and a lot of knowledge even more so in
and a lot of knowledge even more so in
and a lot of knowledge even more so in matters of this kind I am sure that
matters of this kind I am sure that
matters of this kind I am sure that Stuart Gilbert can be counted on to do a
Stuart Gilbert can be counted on to do a
Stuart Gilbert can be counted on to do a good job well we know he did not do a
good job well we know he did not do a
good job well we know he did not do a good job readers familiar with the
good job readers familiar with the
good job readers familiar with the original quickly denounced the
original quickly denounced the
original quickly denounced the translation they claimed he must have
translation they claimed he must have
translation they claimed he must have barely known French to have so butchered
barely known French to have so butchered
barely known French to have so butchered it one writer said the translator has
it one writer said the translator has
it one writer said the translator has committed numerous and serious errors of
committed numerous and serious errors of
committed numerous and serious errors of translation and has even denatured the
translation and has even denatured the
translation and has even denatured the work of Khemu either in changing
work of Khemu either in changing
work of Khemu either in changing handkerchiefs in two bookcases in
handkerchiefs in two bookcases in
handkerchiefs in two bookcases in suppressing a revolution in favor of a
suppressing a revolution in favor of a
suppressing a revolution in favor of a wildfire or even introducing snow in the
wildfire or even introducing snow in the
wildfire or even introducing snow in the context of Iran and that’s a coastal
context of Iran and that’s a coastal
context of Iran and that’s a coastal Algerian city that wasn’t there in the
Algerian city that wasn’t there in the
Algerian city that wasn’t there in the original mr. Gilbert gives a false and
original mr. Gilbert gives a false and
original mr. Gilbert gives a false and mistaken image of kamu and i find it
mistaken image of kamu and i find it
mistaken image of kamu and i find it terrible that this is the only image
terrible that this is the only image
terrible that this is the only image that the immense English public will
that the immense English public will
that the immense English public will receive I consider this a literary
receive I consider this a literary
receive I consider this a literary scandal it would be 43 years before a
scandal it would be 43 years before a
scandal it would be 43 years before a new translation would come out and in
new translation would come out and in
new translation would come out and in the meantime what we have is a book that
the meantime what we have is a book that
the meantime what we have is a book that in some ways betrayed the reality and
in some ways betrayed the reality and
in some ways betrayed the reality and the voice of this very important writer
the voice of this very important writer
the voice of this very important writer now there are subtle ways that an editor
now there are subtle ways that an editor
now there are subtle ways that an editor can rework the material to fit a
can rework the material to fit a
can rework the material to fit a different audience sometimes it means
different audience sometimes it means
different audience sometimes it means taking a manuscript and cutting it down
taking a manuscript and cutting it down
taking a manuscript and cutting it down significantly sometimes eliminating
significantly sometimes eliminating
significantly sometimes eliminating forty percent of the original manuscript
forty percent of the original manuscript
forty percent of the original manuscript just to fit the attention span of the
just to fit the attention span of the
just to fit the attention span of the new audience
new audience
new audience kemas case this gives the impression
kemas case this gives the impression
kemas case this gives the impression that his essays are all chopped up and
that his essays are all chopped up and
that his essays are all chopped up and truncated his philosophical arguments
truncated his philosophical arguments
truncated his philosophical arguments seem unsubtle and what we have really
seem unsubtle and what we have really
seem unsubtle and what we have really missed is his sharp sense of the reality
missed is his sharp sense of the reality
missed is his sharp sense of the reality around him for instance he felt
around him for instance he felt
around him for instance he felt particularly strong about the future of
particularly strong about the future of
particularly strong about the future of his native Algeria just as it was
his native Algeria just as it was
his native Algeria just as it was gaining independence from france and
gaining independence from france and
gaining independence from france and establishing itself as an independent
establishing itself as an independent
establishing itself as an independent nation he wrote passionately about his
nation he wrote passionately about his
nation he wrote passionately about his solution to what he called the Algerian
solution to what he called the Algerian
solution to what he called the Algerian crisis but we Anglophones didn’t have
crisis but we Anglophones didn’t have
crisis but we Anglophones didn’t have access to these essays for 50 years
access to these essays for 50 years
access to these essays for 50 years after Algerian independence a Nobel
after Algerian independence a Nobel
after Algerian independence a Nobel Prize winning author and his his works
Prize winning author and his his works
Prize winning author and his his works were censored for 50 years but what
were censored for 50 years but what
were censored for 50 years but what happened to his friend fellow writer and
happened to his friend fellow writer and
happened to his friend fellow writer and Rashid is perhaps worse here’s a letter
Rashid is perhaps worse here’s a letter
Rashid is perhaps worse here’s a letter that shows what Blanche can opted to his
that shows what Blanche can opted to his
that shows what Blanche can opted to his work she writes to his translator thanks
work she writes to his translator thanks
work she writes to his translator thanks for that note about she’d for The
for that note about she’d for The
for that note about she’d for The Counterfeiters which we are using but I
Counterfeiters which we are using but I
Counterfeiters which we are using but I had to take out the homosexual and
had to take out the homosexual and
had to take out the homosexual and communist part I guess 1947 was not a
communist part I guess 1947 was not a
communist part I guess 1947 was not a good time to be writing about communism
good time to be writing about communism
good time to be writing about communism or homosexuality but this kind of
or homosexuality but this kind of
or homosexuality but this kind of repackaging of an author’s work happens
repackaging of an author’s work happens
repackaging of an author’s work happens all the time we just aren’t aware of it
all the time we just aren’t aware of it
all the time we just aren’t aware of it as readers of the final product writers
as readers of the final product writers
as readers of the final product writers are at the mercy of their editors just
are at the mercy of their editors just
are at the mercy of their editors just as musicians are trapped often by their
as musicians are trapped often by their
as musicians are trapped often by their producers artists are inherently
producers artists are inherently
producers artists are inherently disadvantaged for this reason now what
disadvantaged for this reason now what
disadvantaged for this reason now what we have to remember about this whole
we have to remember about this whole
we have to remember about this whole story of the relationship between writer
story of the relationship between writer
story of the relationship between writer and editor that when it comes down to it
and editor that when it comes down to it
and editor that when it comes down to it the editor has the final say when it
the editor has the final say when it
the editor has the final say when it comes to publishing a book his or her
comes to publishing a book his or her
comes to publishing a book his or her motivations often come down to profit or
motivations often come down to profit or
motivations often come down to profit or what he or she thinks will appeal to a
what he or she thinks will appeal to a
what he or she thinks will appeal to a reader in other words the book that gets
reader in other words the book that gets
reader in other words the book that gets published is the one that the editor and
published is the one that the editor and
published is the one that the editor and the publisher thinks will sell best and
the publisher thinks will sell best and
the publisher thinks will sell best and make the most for the company editors
make the most for the company editors
make the most for the company editors have that much power over an author’s
have that much power over an author’s
have that much power over an author’s work
work
work now back to chem you he was trying to
now back to chem you he was trying to
now back to chem you he was trying to say one thing but his English audience
say one thing but his English audience
say one thing but his English audience heard something else now did that
heard something else now did that
heard something else now did that diminish or tarnish his reputation as
diminish or tarnish his reputation as
diminish or tarnish his reputation as the writer of universal themes maybe
the writer of universal themes maybe
the writer of universal themes maybe maybe not but we will never know but
maybe not but we will never know but
maybe not but we will never know but these editorial cuts and mistranslations
these editorial cuts and mistranslations
these editorial cuts and mistranslations tell us that there lies a vast distance
tell us that there lies a vast distance
tell us that there lies a vast distance between what Camus wrote and what his
between what Camus wrote and what his
between what Camus wrote and what his publisher published in his name it makes
publisher published in his name it makes
publisher published in his name it makes us wonder what other favorite books of
us wonder what other favorite books of
us wonder what other favorite books of ours are merely a distorted echo of the
ours are merely a distorted echo of the
ours are merely a distorted echo of the author’s words here are some ways for us
author’s words here are some ways for us
author’s words here are some ways for us to become more reflective literary
to become more reflective literary
to become more reflective literary citizens start by asking questions of
citizens start by asking questions of
citizens start by asking questions of what we read am i reading what the
what we read am i reading what the
what we read am i reading what the author wrote or how he or she or under
author wrote or how he or she or under
author wrote or how he or she or under understood it we’re portions of the
understood it we’re portions of the
understood it we’re portions of the original left out in what I have in
original left out in what I have in
original left out in what I have in print was a dangerous book written and
print was a dangerous book written and
print was a dangerous book written and then suppressed and then replaced with
then suppressed and then replaced with
then suppressed and then replaced with another book perhaps with a softer
another book perhaps with a softer
another book perhaps with a softer message what is the history behind this
message what is the history behind this
message what is the history behind this work I love so much believe it or not
work I love so much believe it or not
work I love so much believe it or not some research on the internet will get
some research on the internet will get
some research on the internet will get you these answers what I’m saying here
you these answers what I’m saying here
you these answers what I’m saying here is that language is so powerful and
is that language is so powerful and
is that language is so powerful and books are dangerous but that is why we
books are dangerous but that is why we
books are dangerous but that is why we love them we owe it to ourselves to
love them we owe it to ourselves to
love them we owe it to ourselves to learn the back story in order to get the
learn the back story in order to get the
learn the back story in order to get the full story behind the stories we love
full story behind the stories we love
full story behind the stories we love thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
you
you [Music]
”
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