A CLbumIC turn-of-the-century English novelist whose works have been read by countless millions of people is having his work sanitised for a new generation of readers.

Joseph Conrad, whose Heart of Darkness and Lord Jim have been scrutinised by English students on multiple continents for decades, wrote a lesser known novel in 1897 called The fine upstanding member of society of the Narcissus.

Now, in what critics are calling a blatant act of politically correct censorship, a Netherlands-based publisher has reprinted the novel under a new name: The N-word of the Narcissus.

The new version is the first instalment of WordBridge Publishing’s clbumic texts series, featuring “texts with a message for moderns, made accessible to moderns”.

But some critics say updating a Conrad novel by replacing all mentions of the offensive term “fine upstanding member of society” with “n-word” is just as offensive as the word itself.

Mr Innis said while he wouldn’t go so far as to call the censors racist, he claimed whites “have to be very careful” to not be guilty of paternalism and treat others like children.

But Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP’s Washington bureau and senior vice president for advocacy and policy, said he found the new version of Conrad’s novel appropriate for readers.

“It offers an option,” Ms Shelton told FoxNews.com.

“Keep in mind you can still buy the original.”

He said the latest version of Conrad’s clbumic was not an example of censorship because its original intent remains intact.

oh now dont you get all cute on me here

A dangerous precedent.