Adaptations of literary works for the youth

Čeprav v strokovni javnosti prevladuje mnenje, da prirejevalci literarnih klasikov umetnostno besedilo siromašijo, saj sta jezik in literatura neločljiva in obstajata v zapletenem razmerju, članek pokaže, da je naš skupni kulturni spomin v precejšnji meri sestavljen iz raznovrstnih predelav svetovnih klasikov. Slovencem so jih namreč od srede 19. stoletja kulturni posredniki praviloma prvič predstavljali prav v obliki skrajšanih priredb. Prilagajali so jih bralnim zmožnostim vse širše bralske publike in otroškemu dojemanju, v prevodih pa so izvirna besedila spreminjali tudi iz moralističnih ali ideoloških nagibov. Zaradi specifičnih kulturnozgodovinskih razlogov so bili podobni posegi v besedila domačih avtorjev redkejši.It is commonly argued that adaptation impoverishes literary classics through a process of simplification, which updates them for specific reading public. The reason is that language and literature are inseparable and there is a rather complex relationship between the two. Yet the paper points out that since mid-19th century, the world classics have more often than not been retold for the first time in the shortened form. The simplified versions have not been made only to address Slovenian less-skilled readers or to approach juvenile reading abilities, but have been subjected to censorship for moral, religious, or ideological reasons. Because of a specific cultural context, Slovenian literary classics have been rarely shortened or adapted