I picked up a copy of Can You Forgive Her by Anthony Trollope at a charity shop - it was printed in 1973 and the forward is written by Simon Raven who I had never heard of until I just googled him and it does seem he was a fairly controversial person. But still he says by the end of the book you'll wish the main character, Alice, "gets hit on the head with a mallet and raped"
I just find that very distasteful and innappropriate! I know he is talking about a fictional feeling about a fictional character but to me rape is... you know... a violent crime that shouldnt be used as punishment for unwieldy women??? And a forward of a major book is a pretty public place of saying that, you'd think somewhere along the line, even in 1973 some editor would have thought that wasnt the best choice of words?
But then in a fit of bitterness I shall add that on my blog I've been told by a particularly nasty BNP man that I need a "dose of Taliban inspired discipline" so there you go.
Rant over. I know its AIBU but please be kind I am tender atm from the litany of abuse I have had this weekend on same blog even though I must add the clause I know I invited the BNP trouble on myself.