Politically Correct Bedtime Stories : A Collection of Modern Tales for Our Life and Times - Hardcover

Garner, James Finn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 028563223X ISBN 13: 9780285632233

Publisher: Souvenir Pr Ltd, 1994

Synopsis

This is an original and humorous adaptation of classic bedtime stories to reflect more enlightened times. Garner removes any and all types of bias from these traditionally offensive tales and attempts to develop meaningful literature free from the influences of a flawed cultural past.

About this title

Review:

James Finn Garner has taken 12 time-tested tales and retold them with the newfound sensitivity of our times. Here's a snippet from "Little Red Riding Hood":

The wolf said, "You know, my dear, it isn't safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone."

Red Riding Hood said, "I find your sexist remark offensive in the extreme, but I will ignore it because of your traditional status as an outcast from society, the stress of which has caused you to develop your own, entirely valid, worldview. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be on my way."

Leap into a fairy-tale world where trolls are "dirt-accomplished and odor-enhanced," witches are "kindness-impaired," and Cinderella wears a gown "woven of silk stolen from unsuspecting silkworms." We can only regret that Garner had to exclude "The Duckling That Was Judged on Its Personal Merits and Not on Its Physical Appearance" for space reasons.

From the Back Cover:

Once upon a time, in the olden days, heavy-set middle-aged men would congregate in their elitist clubs, sit in over-stuffed leather chairs, smoke air-choking cigars, and pitch story ideas and plots to each other. Problem was, these stories, many of which found their way into the general social consciousness, reflected the way in which these men lived and saw their world: that is, the stories were sexist, discriminatory, unfair, culturally biased, and in general, demeaning to witches, animals, goblins, and fairies everywhere. Finally, after centuries of these abusive tales, which have been handed down - unknowingly - from one male-biased generation to the next, James Finn Garner has taken it upon himself (that's right, yet another man) to enlighten and liberate these classic bedtime stories and retell them in a way that is much more in keeping with the society in which we live today. Politically Correct Bedtime Stores, then is the fruit of Garner's labors. We'd like to think that future generations of fairy-tale fans will see this as a worthy attempt to develop meaningful literature that is totally free from bias and purged from the influences of a flawed cultural past.

About this edition

• Publisher: Souvenir Pr Ltd
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 028563223X
• ISBN 13: 9780285632233
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 89