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And Then There Were None,
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Azur
The original title was actually "Ten little niggers". There is (was?) a small island named Nigger Island that inspired Christie for the setting. Since this is pretty offensive it was changed to "Ten little Indians". The children's rhyme was originally about Indians/Native Americans. This was deemed offensive too, so today they use the last line of the children's rhyme as title and the little figures were changed to soldiers.
Information from my copy of the book.
I have two versions of this book. One is the English version with the little soldiers. The other one is a German translation of the original version with the N word (and a ton of apologies in the preface) but also with the last line as title.
Information from my copy of the book.
I have two versions of this book. One is the English version with the little soldiers. The other one is a German translation of the original version with the N word (and a ton of apologies in the preface) but also with the last line as title.
Sophia
Long story short, they changed the title because it was racist.
The story hasn't changed. The racist terminology was just switched out for something that's less offensive.
And on that note, there is no reason why anyone should be defending the offensive and racist names or terminology as I see some people doing in the replies. Stop. The story and plot never changed.
The story hasn't changed. The racist terminology was just switched out for something that's less offensive.
And on that note, there is no reason why anyone should be defending the offensive and racist names or terminology as I see some people doing in the replies. Stop. The story and plot never changed.
María
I have the spanish translation of the book, and the title is "Diez negritos", literally "Ten little niggers". Honestly, I don't know why it has been changed in english versions, it's a pitty that political correctness has even censur the classics.
Edward
Iris, to be honest, most of the American editions of the BOOKS has been "And Then There Were None." That's the title of the book I read when I was in junior high school. "Ten Little Indians" has been alternate title for the book, but never the main one. I think the reason why so many people erroneously think that the "real" title is "Ten LIttle Indians" is because that was the name of the play based on the book, and also the title of most of the film adaptations.
So the title "And Then There Were None" isn't new---it's been around since the book was published in the United States in 1939 or 1940. What IS relatively new is that the estate of Agatha Christie recently changed the book in the early 2000's (don't know the exact date) to not only change the "Indian" references to "Soldiers", but also change the phrase "n----- in the woodpile" which occurs twice in the book. The play has also been changed to reflect this and most productions now use the title "And Then There Were None", although some use "Ten Little Soldiers."
Many non-English translations have kept the original title, although I don't think those translations use the equivalent of the English epithet---it's more along the lines of "Ten Little Negroes" or "Ten Little Blacks." Although I grew up with the rhyme being "Ten Little Indians", I have to ask myself---would most African-Americans be happy with the change from "n------" to "blacks."? Didn't think so. So why should native Americans be happy, too? I would be FURIOUS if this book were to go back to "Ten LIttle N------", but I would be a hypocrite to say that's wrong but "Ten Little Indians" is OK.
So the title "And Then There Were None" isn't new---it's been around since the book was published in the United States in 1939 or 1940. What IS relatively new is that the estate of Agatha Christie recently changed the book in the early 2000's (don't know the exact date) to not only change the "Indian" references to "Soldiers", but also change the phrase "n----- in the woodpile" which occurs twice in the book. The play has also been changed to reflect this and most productions now use the title "And Then There Were None", although some use "Ten Little Soldiers."
Many non-English translations have kept the original title, although I don't think those translations use the equivalent of the English epithet---it's more along the lines of "Ten Little Negroes" or "Ten Little Blacks." Although I grew up with the rhyme being "Ten Little Indians", I have to ask myself---would most African-Americans be happy with the change from "n------" to "blacks."? Didn't think so. So why should native Americans be happy, too? I would be FURIOUS if this book were to go back to "Ten LIttle N------", but I would be a hypocrite to say that's wrong but "Ten Little Indians" is OK.
Medina Dennie
Maybe because the word "Indian" is racist, god. Wake up.
Dean MacAllister
Actually it was Ten Little N*****s.
I had the book under both titles.
The name change, I think, doesn't require explanation.
I had the book under both titles.
The name change, I think, doesn't require explanation.
Angelina Cara
To much P.C. going on in the world...not all for the good!
Joan Bannan
Oh gosh! I had no idea there were other titles. Yes. Times have certainly changed since the late thirties. I was surprised by the reference to the "Little Jew" and the comment not to discredit "their' money management. No one would write something like that today unless they were painting the character of of a bigot.
Sara Townsend
I managed to find a rather battered paperback copy of this book, printed in 1949, from a second hand book shop a few years ago.
As it still had the original title I thought it was worth the investment! The story itself hasn't changed, but in our more enlightened age modern reprints avoid using the offensive word in the original title.
As it still had the original title I thought it was worth the investment! The story itself hasn't changed, but in our more enlightened age modern reprints avoid using the offensive word in the original title.
Abigail
They changed it because, like a lot of novels, it can be offensive to quite a few cultures. The title was changed numerous times. The copy I own contains "Soldier Island" instead of Indian Island and "Ten little Soldier Boys" instead of Ten Little Indians. The original title contained the N word. So as you can imagine, the titles had to be changed a few times because they all had some sort of racism connected to it, first towards black people, and then toward Natives.
Stacey Space
We did the play in high school and it was called 10 little Indians. Sorry people can be so rude.
Ken
I bought quite cheaply a Collins Fontana paperback, eighth impression, printed in 1969, only a few years ago from someone on eBay or Amazon.
It is in excellent condition, bears the original title as published in the UK, and on the back cover lists the prices in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
So throughout the Commonwealth the original title was still in use then.
It is in excellent condition, bears the original title as published in the UK, and on the back cover lists the prices in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
So throughout the Commonwealth the original title was still in use then.
Thomas Hiller
The changes suffered by the original title of this masterpiece of mystery are a sort of story of the contemporary bigotry and of its disturbing, useless hypocrisy, in the name of the "political correctness".
Harvesty
I really hate censorship and the change of title. In Spain we have the original title still available... or at least I do, in my bookshelf.
It's "Diez negritos", which means Ten little black men. Negro is black and negrito is the diminutive form, which, with the word negro is usually used in a very condescendent way, but not strictly racist.
It's "Diez negritos", which means Ten little black men. Negro is black and negrito is the diminutive form, which, with the word negro is usually used in a very condescendent way, but not strictly racist.
Stephanie Luce
My mother had a copy of the book under the title Ten Little Indians and passed it on to me at age 14. I read every one of Agatha Christie's books and plays in English and many in German. Unfortunately, a flood robbed me of all those wonderful old books. I am starting all over again with And Then There Were None.
SansuiK
Very interesting information. I had no idea and ut was good to know more about it.
Valentina Zanotto
In Italy the title is translated as "Dieci piccoli indiani" wich means "Ten little indians"
Laura (Book Scrounger)
That's the one we have. I would have thought that was the original title and was changed later because "Indians" was deemed offensive, but our paperback copy says "Previously published as 'And Then There Were None'" on it.
Patricia
In other languages, for example Spanish, the N* word does not exist: Negro, Nigger and Black can only be translated as one word, the connotations are only there when in specific contexts.
I'm reading it in English with 'And Then There Were None' as title but they still write Nigger Island all over the place. This edition is from 1985, does anyone have an edition where the name of the island has been changed?
I'm reading it in English with 'And Then There Were None' as title but they still write Nigger Island all over the place. This edition is from 1985, does anyone have an edition where the name of the island has been changed?
Clare Snow
Thanks everyone for sharing the titles from around the world. I knew some of the history of the title, but seeing everyone's replies, I looked up the font of all wisdom Wikipedia:
"It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 6 November 1939, as Ten Little N-----s,[3] after the children's counting rhyme and minstrel song, which serves as a major plot element.[4][5] The US edition was released in January 1940 with the title And Then There Were None, taken from the last five words of the song.[6] Successive American reprints and adaptations use that title, though Pocket Books paperbacks used the title Ten Little Indians between 1964 and 1986. UK editions continued to use the original title until 1985.[7]"
My grandmother had the Collins Fontana from 1976 called Ten Little N------s. The cover is even worse than the title and the setting is N----- Island. 🤬
"It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 6 November 1939, as Ten Little N-----s,[3] after the children's counting rhyme and minstrel song, which serves as a major plot element.[4][5] The US edition was released in January 1940 with the title And Then There Were None, taken from the last five words of the song.[6] Successive American reprints and adaptations use that title, though Pocket Books paperbacks used the title Ten Little Indians between 1964 and 1986. UK editions continued to use the original title until 1985.[7]"
My grandmother had the Collins Fontana from 1976 called Ten Little N------s. The cover is even worse than the title and the setting is N----- Island. 🤬
Mary
There have been 2 movies made called Ten Little Indians that were set in a Swittzerland mountain chalet. Same story just a different setting as well as one set in Africa on a safari. They are all based on Agatha Christie's original story.
Donna Suico
i think you can download the PDF copy of this book from this page. there's a 'Download ebook' button beside the other 'where to buy' links.
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