(Re)reading the classics

[Ripley]

Half a lifetime since I last read Heart of Darkness and got into again at the weekend.

 

Admiration for the writing in what in not even Conrad's native language is tempered by being jolted regularly by contemporary usage and what we today would regard as, er, political incorrectness.

 

In the first third of the book, we already encounter repeated use of the word, "n****r(s)", who are also, often "savages". Women are useless creatures who would ruin the world by the first sunset if in charge, and Kurtz brings in more ivory than all the other agents put together.

 

Any other examples? And to what extent, if at all, are well regarded works diminished by time, modern sensibilities and possibly the dubious views of the author/artist (Wagner, Larkin even)

 

EDIT: asterisking out the word sort of diminishes the point of discussion.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Ripley

[Ostrich Man]

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[Mike]

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[Knox_Harrington]

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