When mystery authorAgatha Christiepassed away in 1976 , she leave behind an impressive soundbox of body of work . There are well over 2 billion written matter of her books in photographic print , as well as a slew ofmoviesadapting them .
Now , some of her bestsellingbooksare being edited to remove objectionable content and to better reflect contemporary standard .
The Telegraphwas the first to account that several Christie novel featuring her most well - known detectives — Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple — are being revised by publisher HarperCollins to eliminate descriptions that would be interpreted as racially insensitive or xenophobic . This includes mentions of part being “ Oriental , ” “ a Jew , ” or someone distinguish as “ Black . ” Minorities characterized as have “ white teeth , ” “ an Amerindic pique , ” or having torsos “ like black marble ” have also been scour .
HarperCollins has already re - released some of the works , which are believe to include the integral Miss Marple aggregation and select Poirot novels . Others are due to be issued in the future .
Christie ’s work was first bowdlerise in her life-time : When the Anti - Defamation Leaguewroteto her publisher quetch about her word-painting of Jewish masses , Christie ’s factor apply American editors blanket permission to remove any mentions they deemed sickening .
Nor is Christie the first writer to have their subject matter posthumously reconsidered . James Bondauthor Ian Fleming andRoald Dahlhave both had Book revised to remove offensive description . In many eccentric , publishers or authors ’ estates employ the services of sensitivity readers , who reexamine catalog deed of conveyance for outdated references . Thecontroversyover the practice , which some decry as censoring , direct Dahl ’s publisher , Penguin Random House , toannouncethe unedited title would persist available .
Born in 1890 , Christie compose herfirstnovel , The Mysterious Affair at Styles , on a dare from her sis , Midge . The book was publish in 1920 and launched her life history as a secret novelist . The last film to be based on her study , Kenneth Branagh’sDeath on the Nile , was relinquish in 2022 .
[ h / tThe Telegraph ]
