Censorship and Reception of the Novels „Robinson Crusoe“ and „Uncle Tom's Cabin“

Abstract

The paper addresses the problems of presenting two classic novels, by D. Defoe and H. B. Stowe, during the time of totalitarian rule. Unspecified abbreviations and interferences in the text significantly distort the originals and affect the author's messages. The attention is paid to the influence of the paratexts used to forged the reception to the direction pointed by the Party, including illumination of the characters from different ideological rays. This stage in the critical perception of the works turns out to be especially deconstructive for the Biblical references, themes, images and motifs.