Harold Robbins’ The Betsy and its Spanish translation under dictatorship: a race against censorship

Abstract

[EN] Harold Robbins was one of the most prolific bestselling writers in the United States. He publishedThe Betsyin 1971 and the story quickly became a bestseller.The history of this novel within the official book control system in Spain was not an uncomplicated one: the first time the censors readit,it was in the form of a translation into Spanish that had originated in Argentina. This translation, entitledBetsy, was deemed inadmissibleby the censors, who denied its publication. However, publishers would sometimes resubmit the same book under another title or in another translation to get it published. This was the case with The Betsy, which was examined a second time by the censors and hence authorized. The story of this race against censorship is an interesting case study to understand how, in the space of three months, the book wentfrom dangerous and reprehensible to morally acceptable.