New Edition of 'Huckleberry Finn:' Censorship at its Finest?

New Edition of 'Huckleberry Finn:' Censorship at its Finest?

Edward Johnson is a guest writer for radiology technician on the subject of earning bachelors programs in radiology

Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is widely considered by scholars to be the great American novel. Centered around the story of the mischievous boy of the title, Huck Finn follows its protagonist and his unlikely partner, a runaway slave named Jim, through the American south before the Civil War. The book is lauded for its unflinching and often scatching depictions of a young country at an explosive time. It shows the United States' rural region with equal parts beauty and ugliness.

This ugliness mainfests itself in racism, which includes frequent use of the N-word. The prolific appearance of the word has led many to misguidedly label the book racist itself, furthering stereotypes and promoting prejudiced attitudes. Such a sentiment is completely wrong, but has led many a school to ban the book, depriving young readers of a true American classic that lambasts the attitudes detractors purport it to have.

In a move to combat these misconceptions, NewSouth Books' upcoming edition of Twain's masterpiece will not feature the N-word at all. Instead, it will be replaced in all instances by the word "slave." Injun will also be excluded as well. The effort is helmed by Twain expert Alan Gribben, who thinks his version is an attempt to update the classic and expose it to wider audiences who would otherwise be turned off by its repeated use of the hurtful word.

The move has sparked immense controversy, with many people crying "censorship!" and others claiming that it is taming, even emasculating and desecrating a classic, untouchable text. But is the replacement of the N-word censorship, is it a needed update, or does it lie somewhere else entirely?

I'm inclined to believe that while the new edition has its heart in the right place, and so is not censorship, it is misguided. The N-word is an ugly and awful word that represents the worst of our nation's history. I understand Gribben and company's idea that removing the word will allow readers to see what the book is truly saying without being blinded by such an accosting label, and will help get the book back in schools and other institutions where it rightfully belongs.

But to remove the word entirely is to gloss over a sordid part of our nation's history and attitudes toward race and class. The word was a sign of the times, one that unfortunately still perseveres to this day. Including the word keeps its impact, both historical and social.

Some have argued that removing the word is akin to "bleeping out" curse words from movies broadcast on television or explicit songs played on the radio. Huck Finn is literature, and in literature there is no place for dancing around the facts or dulling the brute force of uncomfortable truths.

Five Reasons You're Not Writing Your Novel

Five Reasons You're Not Writing Your Novel

This post was written by Jessica Stilling who also writes for pharmacy technician and this website.
So you've always wanted to be a writer. Maybe you got that fancy MFA, or you sit in your room during all hours of the night typing away, or maybe you fantasize about what it would be like to be a best selling author at your day job. Whatever the case, you know it?s time to write that novel and yet you're waiting. Why? Here are a few reasons you might be waiting, and a few reasons why putting it off would be the worst mistake of your life.

#1. You don't have time. Make time. Yes, you have a job, a family, a social life. There are bills to pay and a girlfriend to keep happy. You don't need to give up your life, or your income, to write, just set aside some time. Wake up an hour earlier and write a few pages every day, set aside a few hours on the weekend when you would otherwise be breezing through an entire season of Dexter. Evaluate how you're using your time and see where you might find room for writing.

#2. You're not inspired. This is a problem and no, the solution is not simply get inspired. Though inspiration may seem like a magical force that comes and goes whenever it feels like it, there are ways to jumpstart creative juices. Sit and think for a while, go for a walk, sit on a park bench and listen and watch people. Maybe the inspiration for the heroine for your best seller is standing over by the hot dog vendor.#3. Your head is not in the right place. Again, this solution is not so simple, you can't just get your head in the right place to write a novel. Still, there are ways to evaluate where your head is and where it needs to be. Is your boyfriend being a pain, does your best friend need to cry on your shoulder about her latest break up? You don't need to drop every emotional connection you have, on the contrary, those connections can feed creative juices, but you might want to re-evaluate where you're spending your emotional energy.

#4. The Market. The market is bad, the market is flooded, the market doesn't want this. Whatever the reason, the all mighty market seems to take a lot of blame for a lot of unwritten novels. What does the market have to do with your writing? Maybe by the time you finish this project the market will have turned around, maybe you'll be the lucky one person who hits it big? And if not, so what? You?re writing a novel, not working for the market.

#5. You simply do not believe that you and/or your idea is good enough. Well that's just silly. You've wanted to write since you were how old? You?ve been planning this novel at least in the abstract for how long? Of course you have talent, and of course your idea has merit and even if those publishers and agents tell you otherwise, don?t listen. Your ideas, your talent will grow as you write this novel.

Overall, you owe it to yourself, you owe it to your work and the greater literary society to write this novel. So go for it.

Walking and Writing in Derbyshire

Derwent Reservoir

In these busy and often stressful times, taking a step back from the hustle and bustle of daily life can do wonders to your mental wellbeing. Undoubtedly, one of the best ways to relax and recuperate your mind and soul is to enjoy nature in all of its wonders. In the modern age of fast moving, high-stress and non-stop life, a pleasurable stroll through the countryside can be an ideal healthy and restorative tonic. In Derbyshire, which is blessed with many diverse sites of natural beauty, there are countless opportunities for both the novice and experienced nature walker alike. Furthermore, in a region that boasts of some of the country’s most renowned authors, with Samuel Johnson being the most notable, an adventure in Derbyshire is sure to spark any smouldering embers of inspiration that you hold inside.

Derbyshire is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Of the many natural attractions in the county, the Peak District National Park is the most distinguished. As the first such national park to be designated in Britain, the Peak District consists of roughly 555 square miles of diverse and impressive scenery. With sites ranging from the quiet scenes of the Dovedale and Manifold Valleys, to the brooding crags and crevasses of the Dark Peak there is something for every visitor. This point is demonstrated in the park’s unrivalled popularity, as the Peak District attracts some two million visitors each year, making it the second most visited national park on the planet. Perhaps even more amazing is that even with all of these visitors, there is still ample opportunity to discover your own moments of inspiration.


While the Peak District National Park is the premier site for nature adventures in Derbyshire, there are other popular attractions as well. The 55-mile linear walkway that traverses the amazing Derwent Valley is another remarkable attraction. The path passes through several landscapes, and runs from Ladybower Reservoir in the north, down to where the Derwent River meets the Trent in the south. Overall, Derbyshire is blessed with a remarkable countryside that offers any visitor the chance to escape the outside world and enjoy the solace and solitude of nature.

One of the best ways to get the most out of your experiences in the countryside is to record your most significant impressions in writing and photography. Thankfully, with the help of technology and the internet, sharing your experiences has never been easier. Though it may sound imposing, starting your own blog is actually very simple, and only takes a few minutes. First, find a blog provider that you like. The most popular providers are Blogger, Xanga and LiveJournal and surprisingly most of these are completely free. As you continue to explore the different features of your blog, you can begin to further personalize your site, and begin adding even more features to it.

One of the best ways to spice up your blog is to add personal photographs. The added advantages to photography are many, but most important of all it allows you to remember the remarkable sites and moments you experience while on your nature trek, and also share those moments with others. What a remarkable opportunity to share both your own visions of nature and also the wonder and beauty of the Derbyshire countryside. You will find that taking photographs while out on a nature walk actually teaches you over time to slow down and enjoy the finer details of the countryside that we all too often overlook.


Finally, photography makes writing easier, as the scenes that you capture on your camera will provide the perfect topic for your posts and allow you to detail the events of your day. If you don’t have a suitable camera or want to find a newer model that will make uploading photographs to your computer simpler, then there are plenty of options to consider. For example, Comet is a great camera provider that offers great online discounts for purchases. Next time you get a chance just Google 'comet discount codes’ to see what new deals are available, or if that doesn’t work – 'comet discount vouchers’.

With so many opportunities to enjoy nature in Derbyshire, it only makes sense to get out there and see what wonders you can discover. I also hope that you will take the next step and share your adventures by starting a blog. Whether in words, photography or both, I am sure that you will find that sharing your most memorable and inspiring moments with others will be a new and rewarding experience for you. Good luck!