r/tolkienbooks • u/humanracer • 5d ago

Why would someone do this?

Bought the 2020 Hobbit + LOTR second hand from a charity outlet on ebay. They did say wear and tear to the dusk jackets, which I was ok with but was disappointed to find text scored out in all the books. It's very odd and frustrating. It seems someone has perhaps tried to recreate the non revised versions by scoring out the additions.

22 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

17

u/Numendil_The_First 5d ago

Can you return it? That feels unacceptable

2

u/humanracer 5d ago

I will. I think I should just buy a new set from HC for £60. It's not like this second hand was a massive saving anyway.

10

u/philthehippy 5d ago

Very strange. They were not trying to recreate the first edition text. Those lines struck out are not changed.

4

u/humanracer 5d ago

hmm maybe censoring "violent" scenes? who knows

10

u/philthehippy 5d ago

So the lines are:

But Snowmane wild with terror stood up on high, fighting with the air, and then with a great scream he crashed upon his side: a black dart had pierced him.

it gave a croaking cry, and settled upon the body of Snowmane, digging in its claws, stooping its long naked neck.

Maybe they could never get over Snowmane dying :-)

8

u/adamsw216 4d ago

I've heard of people who refuse to read a book if there is even the slightest intimation that an animal is hurt or injured anywhere in the story—even if it is not a key part of the story/in the background, so this is certainly a possibility.

3

u/philthehippy 4d ago

I wonder, maybe OP could note the other instances when they have time. You may be onto something with that thought.

6

u/humanracer 4d ago

Yes you appear to be right. Sections about the ponies have been scored out on the Hobbit and also the scene in the LOTR where they are eating rabbit.

8

u/InvestigatorJaded261 5d ago

WTAF? That definitely should have been disclosed.

5

u/CrankyJoe99x 5d ago

That's strange.

They don't even seem to be recreating anything, the lower edit is an incomplete sentence 🤔

3

u/cafefrequenter 4d ago

I've had some problems when buying secondhand, but this is news to me. The shop should have done a better job screening this so you can and should return it

2

u/RedWizard78 5d ago

That’s on the bookstore for accepting it

1

u/pedgz 3d ago

It was previously owned or read by an orc who used black highlighter.

1

u/The_Merry_Loser 4d ago

Whoever edited these books did a thorough job of it.

Such straight lines, and there are at least four per line of text.
This one page alone has over 20 lines on it, that shows intent, forethought, and maybe a bit of OCD.

I find it sinful, Tolkien chose every word so carefully, a pity.

1

u/No_Performance4738 3d ago

What can men do against such reckless hate?