Val McDermid Speaks Out Against 'Dishonest' Rewriting of Historical Fiction
The acclaimed crime writer Val McDermid has publicly addressed the contentious practice of revising older literary works to align with contemporary social norms, branding it as fundamentally dishonest. Speaking at the Out in the Hills LGBTQ+ festival in Pitlochry, the Scottish author, often hailed as the queen of crime, shared her personal experience with this modern publishing phenomenon.
The Role of the Sensitivity Reader in Revisiting Past Works
McDermid disclosed that ahead of the planned republication of her Lindsay Gordon mystery series—originally penned in the 1980s and 1990s—she was assigned a sensitivity reader. This professional was tasked with identifying and suggesting the removal of language that could be deemed offensive by today's standards. The novels, which feature a lesbian Scottish freelance journalist as the protagonist, included characters in law enforcement who used racial and homophobic slurs, reflecting attitudes prevalent during that era.
"I argued the case that these books were of their time and that it's dishonest to try to make them read differently," McDermid stated, as reported by The Times. "In most instances, I won my point. The few examples where I didn't win my point were to do with race."
Preserving Historical Context in Literature
With over 19 million novels sold worldwide, McDermid is renowned for the authenticity of her dialogue. She emphasised the importance of maintaining the historical integrity of literary works, suggesting that altering them erases valuable social context.
"I think it's kind of interesting to look at novels that were written in a particular time," she remarked. "A lot has changed in 40 years. But a book set in 1987 can't suddenly have the sensibilities of a book that's going to be published now."
When questioned about whether she felt offended by the involvement of a sensitivity reader, McDermid responded with a measured perspective. "I was more amused than offended," she admitted. "Rereading those novels again, there are things that I wouldn't do now, because the world has changed. The characters would not behave in that way now, but I don't see much point in going back and rewriting your earlier work to make it conform to the times now."
The Broader Implications for Literary Heritage
McDermid's comments touch on a wider debate within the publishing industry regarding the balance between respecting modern sensitivities and preserving artistic and historical authenticity. She advocates for retaining original texts as a means to document social progress.
"We need to have those earlier historic texts to understand how far we've come and how different it is now," she asserted, highlighting the educational value of unaltered works.
This discussion is particularly poignant given that McDermid's 1995 novel, The Mermaids Singing, has faced retrospective criticism for its depiction of graphic violence and a transgender serial killer character. The author's stance suggests a preference for contextual understanding over revisionism.
In a related note, McDermid, who serves as a national year of reading ambassador, recently met the Queen in Edinburgh during the launch of a reading initiative at the National Library of Scotland. Her career began in 1977 as a newspaper journalist in Glasgow, laying the groundwork for her later success as a bestselling novelist.
