'The tao of Janet and John' diff viewer (3/4)

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Version 3	Version 4
This is Janet. This is John... all over again	This is Janet. This is John... all over again
2007-11-19 11:51:07 UTC	2007-11-19 12:10:41 UTC (20 minutes later)
By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Forget the modern updates, this Christmas you may find yourself getting a little literary slice of the 1950s.	By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Forget the modern updates, this Christmas you may find yourself getting a little literary slice of the 1950s.
Once upon a time, everybody learnt to read with Janet and John.	Once upon a time, everybody learnt to read with Janet and John.
This apparently middle-class nuclear family featured Father - slicked hair, grey slacks, blank expression - and Mother - surprising Hepburn-esque cropped hair and primary colour clothes.	This apparently middle-class nuclear family featured Father - slicked hair, grey slacks, blank expression - and Mother - surprising Hepburn-esque cropped hair and primary colour clothes.
Then there was Janet - blonde hair in bunches, typically seen in a dress or a skirt - and John - curly reddish hair and always in shorts.	Then there was Janet - blonde hair in bunches, typically seen in a dress or a skirt - and John - curly reddish hair and always in shorts.
It was easy to imagine Father managing a small-town branch of Barclays, while Mother churned out jam for the WI. Over the years they have been wickedly parodied by Terry Wogan and others, and provided the backdrop for more inclusive views of family structure, such as Jenny lives with Eric and Martin.	It was easy to imagine Father managing a small-town branch of Barclays, while Mother churned out jam for the WI. Over the years they have been wickedly parodied by Terry Wogan and others, and provided the backdrop for more inclusive views of family structure, such as Jenny lives with Eric and Martin.
Janet and John were not health and safety-obsessedEnlarge Image In 2001, when the books were "updated" for the modern generation, the perceived social stereotyping was toned down and more [ie any] ethnic minority characters were added.	Janet and John were not health and safety-obsessedEnlarge Image In 2001, when the books were "updated" for the modern generation, the perceived social stereotyping was toned down and more [ie any] ethnic minority characters were added.
But now the unashamedly middle England, middle 20th Century originals are back in print, and they are part of a major trend in publishing towards nostalgic facsimile editions of old favourites.	But now the unashamedly middle England, middle 20th Century originals are back in print, and they are part of a major trend in publishing towards nostalgic facsimile editions of old favourites.
"They don't make 'em like they used to." It's been a recurring sentiment in British culture for a long time. All the way back to the industrial revolution and beyond, people have been yearning for a time when standards, both of conception and construction, were supposedly better.	"They don't make 'em like they used to." It's been a recurring sentiment in British culture for a long time. All the way back to the industrial revolution and beyond, people have been yearning for a time when standards, both of conception and construction, were supposedly better.
The proof of the ubiquity of this sentiment may arrive in your Christmas stocking in a few weeks time.	The proof of the ubiquity of this sentiment may arrive in your Christmas stocking in a few weeks time.
The wave of nostalgia that has gripped the publishing industry follows the success of Conn and Hal Iggulden's Dangerous Book for Boys. Published in 2006, it looked as though it could have been published in 1956.	The wave of nostalgia that has gripped the publishing industry follows the success of Conn and Hal Iggulden's Dangerous Book for Boys. Published in 2006, it looked as though it could have been published in 1956.
Retro chic	Retro chic
As well as similar retro-styled modern adventure almanacs, publishers are scrabbling for books, particularly children's stories, from the 1950s and beyond, to lovingly reprint them in facsimile editions. Failing that they are taking modern content and giving it a 50s feel with foil lettering and retro design as is the case with Buster Books' boys annual, girls annual and How to Be the Best at Everything.	As well as similar retro-styled modern adventure almanacs, publishers are scrabbling for books, particularly children's stories, from the 1950s and beyond, to lovingly reprint them in facsimile editions. Failing that they are taking modern content and giving it a 50s feel with foil lettering and retro design as is the case with Buster Books' boys annual, girls annual and How to Be the Best at Everything.
Scottish nostalgia-ites are also catered forIt's the literary equivalent of the fad for 70s Adidas trainers, says Graeme Neill, of the Bookseller magazine.	Scottish nostalgia-ites are also catered forIt's the literary equivalent of the fad for 70s Adidas trainers, says Graeme Neill, of the Bookseller magazine.
"If we look at the publishing industry it has been behind popular culture by a number of years. People have wanted retro."	"If we look at the publishing industry it has been behind popular culture by a number of years. People have wanted retro."
And it is clear - for the facsimile reprints if not the adventure annuals - that many of the books will be bought by adults, for adults. The Janet and John reprints are labelled "humour" as if to get the message across.	And it is clear - for the facsimile reprints if not the adventure annuals - that many of the books will be bought by adults, for adults. The Janet and John reprints are labelled "humour" as if to get the message across.
It's perhaps not just a case of reminiscing about one's own childhood, but also a harking back to the social and cultural values of another age. In a recent survey, respondents longed for old-fashioned sweet shops, bobbies on the beat, village fetes, district nurses, red telephone boxes, bus conductors and everything else 1950s.	It's perhaps not just a case of reminiscing about one's own childhood, but also a harking back to the social and cultural values of another age. In a recent survey, respondents longed for old-fashioned sweet shops, bobbies on the beat, village fetes, district nurses, red telephone boxes, bus conductors and everything else 1950s.
And whether or not that world ever existed, there are many adults who want to hold its cultural embodiment in their hands.	And whether or not that world ever existed, there are many adults who want to hold its cultural embodiment in their hands.
Whether it's the reissued Janet and John books, Rupert Bear annuals from the 50s, Oor Wullie and the Broons from earlier, or Jackie annuals from later, adults everywhere are buying children's books with no thought of giving them to children.	Whether it's the reissued Janet and John books, Rupert Bear annuals from the 50s, Oor Wullie and the Broons from earlier, or Jackie annuals from later, adults everywhere are buying children's books with no thought of giving them to children.
Rupert also presents some problems for modern publishersSome are trying to capture the spirit of an age they associate with innocence and imagination, says John Beck, honorary secretary of the Followers of Rupert.	Rupert also presents some problems for modern publishersSome are trying to capture the spirit of an age they associate with innocence and imagination, says John Beck, honorary secretary of the Followers of Rupert.
"It's nostalgia publishing. People remember it from the past with happy memories. They are probably going to be in their 40s, 50s, 60s. To see it again to relive those times. They were probably happier times.	"It's nostalgia publishing. People remember it from the past with happy memories. They are probably going to be in their 40s, 50s, 60s. To see it again to relive those times. They were probably happier times.
"There were no muggings or shooting or other problems that one has these days. It is that security that they remember from their youth."	"There were no muggings or shooting or other problems that one has these days. It is that security that they remember from their youth."
And just as the Dangerous Book for Boys tapped a zeitgeist that is increasingly exasperated by what they see as an overprotective health and safety culture, so these books from decades ago reflect a more buccaneering spirit.	And just as the Dangerous Book for Boys tapped a zeitgeist that is increasingly exasperated by what they see as an overprotective health and safety culture, so these books from decades ago reflect a more buccaneering spirit.
Sense of adventure	Sense of adventure
In the Janet and John books, the children ride on horseback across rivers and climb trees, once normal activities that would now probably not make it past a typical risk assessment form.	In the Janet and John books, the children ride on horseback across rivers and climb trees, once normal activities that would now probably not make it past a typical risk assessment form.
Tintin in the Congo enjoyed hefty sales after it was branded racist"There are children climbing trees. Now they say we can't do this we can't do that, you can't play conkers, children aren't allowed out," says Alastair Williams, managing director of Summersdale, the publishers reprinting the Janet and John books.	Tintin in the Congo enjoyed hefty sales after it was branded racist"There are children climbing trees. Now they say we can't do this we can't do that, you can't play conkers, children aren't allowed out," says Alastair Williams, managing director of Summersdale, the publishers reprinting the Janet and John books.
He agrees that it is the power of the idealised remembrance of the 50s that drives adults to buy these books for each other.	He agrees that it is the power of the idealised remembrance of the 50s that drives adults to buy these books for each other.
"It's a lot like going up into the attic and finding something from your past like an old television. It can evoke rose-tinted memories. Something like 70% of the population learnt to read with Janet and John. It's almost part of our cultural heritage, something that is instantly recognisable."	"It's a lot like going up into the attic and finding something from your past like an old television. It can evoke rose-tinted memories. Something like 70% of the population learnt to read with Janet and John. It's almost part of our cultural heritage, something that is instantly recognisable."
But while these facsimile reprints offer commercial opportunities for publishers, they can also threaten a political minefield.	But while these facsimile reprints offer commercial opportunities for publishers, they can also threaten a political minefield.
Take books from six decades ago and you are reaching back to an era of different social mores, including a very different attitude to racial epithets.	Take books from six decades ago and you are reaching back to an era of different social mores, including a very different attitude to racial epithets.
Negative depictions	Negative depictions
The recent reprinting of Tintin in the Congo sparked a furore because of its stereotypical depiction of Africans. The publisher, Egmont, was unrepentant, having printed the book with a foreword discussing the issues of racism and changing cultural norms. Perhaps not ~~unsurprisingly,~~ the book sold heavily off the back of the negative publicity.	The recent reprinting of Tintin in the Congo sparked a furore because of its stereotypical depiction of Africans. The publisher, Egmont, was unrepentant, having printed the book with a foreword discussing the issues of racism and changing cultural norms. Perhaps not surprisingly, the book sold heavily off the back of the negative publicity.
JANET AND JOHN Made UK debut in 1949Published in US as Alice and JerryIt is claimed 70% of UK adults learned to read with themRevised stories in 2001 Alistair Spalding, of Egmont, says: "Context is extremely important. It is a very difficult issue." But he insists there could be no question of censoring the book and therefore invalidating its status as a facsimile reprint.	JANET AND JOHN Made UK debut in 1949Published in US as Alice and JerryIt is claimed 70% of UK adults learned to read with themRevised stories in 2001 Alistair Spalding, of Egmont, says: "Context is extremely important. It is a very difficult issue." But he insists there could be no question of censoring the book and therefore invalidating its status as a facsimile reprint.
Many publishers take this position. The reissue of the pre-war comic strip the Broons by Aurum Press drew criticism for another - by modern standards - negative depiction of a black character.	Many publishers take this position. The reissue of the pre-war comic strip the Broons by Aurum Press drew criticism for another - by modern standards - negative depiction of a black character.
Rupert, also from Egmont, again offers a major challenge, but Beck suggests the publishers will not reprint some of the annuals for this very reason.	Rupert, also from Egmont, again offers a major challenge, but Beck suggests the publishers will not reprint some of the annuals for this very reason.
For Mr Beck, with certain exceptions, it is wrong to bow to political correctness. Instead the change in attitudes should be highlighted as part of a context that opens up a debate on how much society has changed.	For Mr Beck, with certain exceptions, it is wrong to bow to political correctness. Instead the change in attitudes should be highlighted as part of a context that opens up a debate on how much society has changed.
"It would open up that debate rather than just editing it all out. It's important these things are remembered. They should try and make it as real as possible. If you start altering it, it's no longer a facsimile."	"It would open up that debate rather than just editing it all out. It's important these things are remembered. They should try and make it as real as possible. If you start altering it, it's no longer a facsimile."
And that is what readers want from these reproductions - an accurate window back into their childhoods.	And that is what readers want from these reproductions - an accurate window back into their childhoods.