Why do we think that, in chapter 35, the original words of the Quangle Wangle's Hat have been changed? Or do I have a 'PC' version?

Gareth

I've just looked up lots of copies of the original Edward Lear poem to find what the difference was.

The three verses that were included were the ones that were relevant to the plot of The Fourth Bear and the others were probably left out to reduce length.

The only other difference I can find is that the Beaver hat has been changed to an eaver hat. Maybe Jasper has an aversion to animal hats, or wearing fur, or maybe he really likes beavers - but it could be that it's just a typo.

In the US edition, it says Beaver hat

I have the UK edition, with the eaver hat. If it's right in the US edition then it's likely to be a typo, which is a little disappointing because I was enjoying the animal rights angle...

I went to an appearance yesterday and Jasper added the B to the poem in my book.

That's quite charming. He's personally rescued your book.

To save Mr. Fforde a huge amount of work why does he not just change his original manuscript?

OOPS! edited to add the word "WORK" so that the above makes some form of sense. Sorry for not proof reading!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/2006 02:48PM by SkidMarks.

Here I was thinking I had learned of something new, being an obviously robust hat making material called eaver. I am slightly disappointed.

Even if it was supposed to be 'eaver', you ought to be careful with Lear, it might very well be a made up word.

On a related note: in the summer of 2004, I saw a fantastic new show in St Davids (Cymru) based on Lear's Poems. Fantastic original play, marvellous use of his poems.



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I just try to imagine a make-up artist trying to follow Lear's description of the Dong with a Luminous Nose: "of vast proportions and painted red, and tied with cords to the back of his head...with holes all round to send the light..."

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Design #3609494995:
It's a newly-discovered breed of fish that keeps your teeth clean, tastes delicious and dissolves in water.
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Yes, that was quite the sight.



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I have to confess to something. I had never, ever heard of Edward Lear or the Quangle Wangle Quee before reading TFB, and when I came upon the name of the Quangle-Wangle, I felt that Jasper was starting to get sloppy in coming up with wacky names for the characters, because this one had no charm at all. (Later did I found out that this book was written before Thursday) Then I read the poem in the book, and I thought that it was something Jasper had made up as a homage or imitation to surrealist prose like Jabberwocky. All of it became much more amusing when I actually found out about the Lear poem, and that Jasper is no less clever than I've always thought him.

Something else I want to point out is that in America the character of the Red Legged Scissor-Man is completely unheard of. I think this is interesting because the "Happy Families" thing was removed whereas the Scissor-Man wasn't, but this time I assumed it was just some kind of nursery bogeyman that my parents just never personally threatened me with. In fact, I've been reading up on the subject and the British really do have a rich pantheon of mythic characters devised to frighten children... here, we have one generic all-purpose Bogeyman.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/2008 02:03AM by Planet Cool.

"I want to point out is that in America the character of the Red Legged Scissor-Man is completely unheard of. I think this is interesting because the "Happy Families" thing was removed whereas the Scissor-Man wasn't, but this time I assumed it was just some kind of nursery bogeyman that my parents just never personally threatened me with. In fact, I've been reading up on the subject and the British really do have a rich pantheon of mythic characters devised to frighten children... here, we have one generic all-purpose Bogeyman."

Nor here, in Australia, but I just assumed it was a thing, you know, which made sense to some. Fforde is like that to me. Best taken with a teaspoon of acceptance that weird crap can and will happen. The best kind of author, in retrospect.