A new collection of rejigged tales gets much closer to the spirit of these stories than the ‘traditional’ versions we’re force-fed There’s a book called Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, written by James Finn Garner, which used to be on my parents’ shelves, and is now on mine. Published in 1994, it was a massive bestseller in its time, satirising changing social attitudes and acting as an amusing corrective for the holier-than-thou: Little Red Riding Hood, for example, finds the wolf’s suggestion that it isn’t safe for a little girl to walk through the woods alone “sexist” and “offensive in the extreme… ” but, she says, “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”. It also stands as a reminder that the so-called culture wars, all that rightwing fury at the “tyranny of woke”, are simply the political-correctness-gone-mad wars of yesteryear rebranded for a new, digital age.Right-on children’s books have had a resurgence, as demonstrated by the success of series such as Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This autumn, children have been gifted four rejigged fairytales in the form of Vintage Children’s Classics’ new Fairy Tale Revolution series, which sees Bluebeard, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel and The Ugly Duckling revisited by Malorie Blackman, Rebecca Solnit, Jeanette Winterson and Kamila Shamsie respectively. They are all just lovely: sweet and funny... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2020-11-04 09:00:13 UTC ]
Matt Hamblen's recent article on ebook borrowing illustrates the difficulties libraries are facing in the digital age. It's too bad, because libraries are an important resource. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publication Date: Wed, 28/09/2011 - 14:09 Ali Smith, Jeanette Winterson and film director John Waters have all been longlisted for the Green Carnation Prize, now in its second year. The prize, open to all LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) writers celebrates the best of modern gay... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Mon, 26/09/2011 - 08:45 Zadie Smith, Jeanette Winterson, Blake Morrison and Mark Haddon are among the big names contributing to a Vintage essay collection described as a "mission statement about the paramount importance of reading to our quality of... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The printed book is facing its share of challenges in the digital age. But one of the biggest problems facing the future of the book has gone relatively unnoticed by book loversthe quality of paper being used in many first edition hardcovers is declining, saddling consumers with inferior... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 18/08/2011 - 12:10 Man Booker-winning author Graham Swift has said there is a danger aspiring writers may be put off from writing if the rates they are paid decrease in the digital age. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Tue, 09/08/2011 - 08:47 Weidenfeld & Nicolson publisher Alan Samson will be guest speaker at the Print Charity's annual luncheon this autumn. The lunch takes place in Stationers' Hall, London on 3rd November. Samson's speech will be entitled "The... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a white paper titled The Media Company of the Future: The Revolution Goes On, consulting firm AMR International Consulting Inc. outlines the steps it says traditional companies must take to incorporate technological advances into their business model and stay competitive against New world... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Fri, 11/02/2011 - 08:28 An open letter to culture secretary Jeremy Hunt and culture minister Ed Vaizey calling for a halt to library closures after the success of last weekend's protests has been signed by high-profile authors including Sarah... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 09/02/2011 - 07:28 PA chief executive Richard Mollet has stressed the "political . . and social imperative to promote literacy", calling on delegates at the PA's second annual digital seminar to "do all we can to promote people and... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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