As of: February 23, 2024, 6:00 p.m
By: Sven Trautwein
Comments
Press
Split
Classics like “Jim Knopf” are constantly being modernized.
The most recent revision focused on problematic language use.
Readers comment positively.
“Jim Knopf and Lukas the Engine Driver” by Michael Ende adorns almost every bookshelf.
However, this classic children's book was criticized for racist language.
Similar to “The Lighthouse on the Lobster Cliffs” by James Krüss, classics are constantly being modernized.
Thienemann Verlag has now reacted and published a revised version of the “Jim Knopf” books, which will be in stores from February 24th.
The fans are happy about important deletions and a new cover.
Thienemann Verlag revised the “Jim Knopf” books and provided new covers.
© Stefan Puchner/dpa/Thienemann (montage)
The publisher announced in a press release that the text changes were made in collaboration with Michael Ende's heirs.
Jim Knopf's depiction was also revised in consultation with the descendants of illustrator FJ Tripp.
After intensive discussions with the estate administrators, the publisher made adjustments.
The aim was to ensure that “children who read the books now do not adopt these linguistic elements into their everyday vocabulary.”
Publisher Bärbel Dorweiler emphasizes the long process
Publisher Bärbel Dorweiler explains the process: “We did it in several rounds.”
She adds: “First of all, we read in great detail during the proofreading process and marked all the places that one might stumble over.
Then we sought advice from a sensitivity reader, someone who has experienced a lot of discrimination himself.
We then spoke in great detail with Michael Ende's heirs to examine each change piece by piece and decide whether and how we should make changes.
Above all, we deleted individual words and added or changed as few words as possible.
It was a long and careful process.”
Readers of the classic children's book are impressed by the changes:
My news
Ferdinand von Schirach's new publication “She says.
He says.” will be published at the end of February
Amazon Prime: “Harry Potter” and other series will no longer be available from March read
Literary highlights: The most popular bestsellers of 2023 to devour
Jussi Adler-Olsen: Readings are canceled due to illness
“Blood Moon” by Jo Nesbø: his best crime novel with Harry Holelesen
Book tips: Ten classics that you should definitely read once
“👏 Good decision!
Sounds to me like a good, considered approach, and completely in the 'spirit' of the Jim Knopf books."
“Now I can finally put the books on my wish list with a clear conscience; so far I’ve only read the library editions👏”
“Thank you so much for that!
I think that's incredibly good of you and I'm sure that Michael Ende would also have welcomed these changes.
💜”
“My kids and I loved these great adventures!!
What lovely reading times those were📚❤️🤩”
Stay up to date on new releases, book tips and news from comedy, streaming and music with the free newsletter from our partner 24books.de.
In the 1960s, Michael Ende deliberately only had Mr. Hülse say the N-word.
He wanted to emphasize his lack of cosmopolitanism, which is characteristic of a typical subject.
Today, even such distant use can be viewed as discriminatory.
The same applies to the equality of black and dirty skin, which Michael Ende used to emphasize the close relationship between Jim Knopf and the train driver Lukas.
Thienemann Verlag removes the N-word
Thienemann Verlag has removed the N-word from the new edition of the novels “Jim Knopf and Lukas the Engine Driver” and “Jim Knopf and the Wilde 13”, which will be published on February 24th.
This was done in collaboration with Michael Ende's heirs.
The publisher comments on the revised depictions of Jim Knopf in the new editions of the two novels: “Like his fatherly friend Lukas, Jim Knopf has a transverse oval head, the same spherical eyes, rather protruding ears and a wide mouth.” The illustrator FJ Tripp has exaggerated all figures.
“It is the thick pink lips and the black skin, which flows into the black hair without boundaries, that can be irritating when viewed today and against the background of black people's experiences of racism.” The editions with the original black and white illustrations are still available and will contain an afterword in the future.
The new edition of children's books is not always met with approval.
Farmer representatives criticized the new edition of the “New Bunny School” by Anke Engelke.
However, Engelke emphasizes the importance of modernizing old books and not banning them.
Michael Ende “Jim Knopf and Lukas the Engine Driver”
2024 Thienemann, ISBN-13 978-3-522-18676-6
Price: Hardcover €18, 272 pages