Altered Text in Second Edition

[Azerane]

On my wanderings on the net some time ago, I came across this interesting piece of information regarding the WD book.



I couldn't help but think of the implications of this change in text. Since no other change in text is mentioned, we can assume that the rabbits simply started calling Hazel, Hazel-rah at some point without any actual discussion about it (and if I hadn't left my copy of the book in the U.S, I could look up the next mention of it).

So does it simply indicate a loyal acceptance of Hazel's leadership, or was it a matter of cutting out Bigwig's mention of how he would stop fighting, as I find that line to be a fairly important plot point. Because you know that Bigwig is not only a great fighter, but that he quite enjoys it, so for him to stop fighting and call Hazel, Hazel-rah, is really quite a big deal, and a true acceptance of him as leader, rather than blind acceptance.

[icewolf]

Quite interesting since I have two copies of it. An hardback, which may have the alteration (I'll have to look it up when I get hold of it again, since I don't have it with me at the moment) and a Puffin version which does have the original text in. I wonder why they changed it? It is quite interesting because when I was reading my Puffin copy I was sure that there were some alterations in that some of the chapters in the Puffin version seemed to be shorter, but I put it down to the fact that I'd not read WD in a long time. I did have a similar feeling with some of the Lord of the Rings chapters, particularly the Tom Bombadil one and the one when they are at Rivendell when I re-read it last September, because I remember that the last time I read those that those chapters were a struggle to get through and the last time I read it, they weren't.