Incident of Two Badges
Hello my friends, in light of COVID-19 cases still being very active around the globe, likely due to relaxed regulations in some regions, I hope you and your loved ones will continue to thrive during this strange time in our lives. It seems to me a lot of you have embraced the “new normal” fairly well so far.
Once again, it’s my honour to have the privilege to read your brilliant contributions to Let’s imagine…. What a pleasant surprise to have received over 20 submissions! Have you heard my heartfelt applause? 👏👏👏 To those who haven’t yet read the diary entries, I highly recommend you give them a try. For sure you will be delighted!
The overall positive feedback has been very encouraging, and no doubt the participants are familiar with Candy Candy Final Story (CCFS) and the manga / anime version. Some of you have even read more than one official translation of CCFS. To me, you’re more than readers or subscribers of my blog. In fact, I consider some of you as contributors, and without your inputs or insights, my recent posts would not have been as intriguing! I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, and your participation is the fuel that keeps me motivated. 💖
Hence, I like to take this opportunity to restate my preferences when it comes to personal messages. If it’s about getting my permission or anything about my blog, I will try my best to reply within a day or so, but please understand I don’t have time and leisure to get into lengthy conversations with individuals, including any question related to CCFS. It so happens that a couple of people I don’t know contacted me in private lately, and I politely told them both to post their questions on my blog instead or join the ongoing discussions. I usually approve newcomers’ comments unless they are inappropriate, rude or offensive.
There’s one more announcement. Some of you have expressed interests in reading the Old CC novel. If you like, my series Did Candy find her happiness was based on the extracts or spoilers of the old novel. Yet, I got better news. Fay has gathered plenty of pictures and materials from various Candy Candy fans and created a wonderful document in English about the Old CC novel! Please click the link to take a look! I’ll surely read it myself too. 🙂
Back to the fanfics that you have submitted, when I was reading them I noticed several common themes: (1) Candy bade farewell to her past and welcomed an uncertain future with the assurance that Albert loved her. (2) Candy was happy that Albert (aka W. A. Ardlay) had gradually opened up more about himself and/or was willing to express his feelings or opinions. (3) Candy missed her days living with Albert in the House of Magnolia and how his sudden absence made her realize he had held a special place in her heart.
About the first point, it was already obvious in the old novel, and in CCFS it’s even more pronounced — Candy’s resolve not to open her old diary but to entrust it with Albert. It was evidently not a rash decision at all, as explained in many of the fanfics. Well done, my friends! About the second point, to me Albert was more open in the CCFS Epilogue than in the equivalent section in the Old CC novel. For example, in the old novel, he wrote in his letter why he had kept his recovery a secret from Candy, something like “The reason? I will leave it to your imagination”. Yet he added that he preferred living with Candy than going back to the Ardlay’s mansion. I forgot the exact wording, so I’d better check Fay’s document when I have a chance. 🙂 On the other hand, in CCFS he clearly indicated that he didn’t want to leave the heartwarming life. The literal translation is the life “with warmth (lovingness)” (ぬくもりのある).
Another example is that Albert was not shy from writing to Candy that he wanted to investigate what exactly would give her happiness. I don’t recall reading this in the spoilers of the old novel. He was serious about her, without a doubt, and rather than writing to Candy about Rosemary (in the old novel), Albert verbally told her about the story behind his cute nickname and how his late sister had fought bravely for true love. He also let Candy call him Little Bert, and this fact alone made her feel exhilarated, and she was totally honest about it in her letter to him. 💞 This part was missing in the old novel, as far as I know. There are more examples, but I’ll let you read the old novel that Fay has prepared with love.
About Candy missing Albert during his absence, I’m very impressed with your stories. You ladies have described Candy’s yearning very well. Imagine living with someone outside your family for many months — if you two have been incompatible or arguing (fighting) all the time, once this person is gone you would have been relieved or never wanted to see him (her) again, right? But for Candy, she missed Albert the person and his companionship a lot, and it’s not a kind of homesickness that she experienced. In CCFS Candy was aware “living with a family member” was different. Even though she could not quite explain it, she admitted Albert was special to her. In the manga, this was when Candy was feeling unbearably lonely but continued living in that apartment, as though she was hoping Albert would come home to her one day.
This leads me to the topic of this post: “the Incident of Two Badges”, which took place in the manga episodes after Albert had disappeared in Candy’s life. She missed him so much that she blindly went to an unknown place Rockstown to find him, just because he had sent her a gift from that town. When the manga was serialized in the Nakayoshi magazine (January and February editions in 1979), there were discrepancies between the manga and the author’s manuscripts. As Nagita (her pen name Mizuki) reviewed the galley proof (the preliminary versions of publications meant for review by authors, editors, and/or proofreaders), she was quite angry at both Igarashi and the editor in charge for making changes without her consent.
Remember I mentioned the website, “Candy Candy Bootlegs”, in Love happens when least expected? It has a page titled “The incident of Candy Candy last episode and Two badges – from the log of Kyoko Mizuki’s official bulletin board”. I don’t plan to translate everything on this page, but I’ll give a summary and talk about the highlights. Those of you who know about this incident please check if I have misinterpreted anything and feel free to point it out. 🙂
Before Nagita went traveling (writing for another magazine and finishing up the Candy Candy story in France), she passed her manuscripts to the editor in charge, who should be responsible to proofread Yumiko Igarashi’s drafts based on the manuscripts. This was not the same editor whom Nagita had worked with since the beginning, and this new editor was also busy with another manga for young girls.
While the author was away, Igarashi did not faithfully follow the manuscripts and even added new ideas or changed the plot to the point that enraged Nagita, who unfortunately had not been able to check the storyboard beforehand. As a matter of fact, this was not the first time Igarashi changed the story without permission (like how exactly Stear was killed in the war), which had already upset the author, but Nagita found this Incident of Two Badges intolerable. She made Igarashi rearrange or redraw some scenes when publishing the manga bound as books, and only then the readers got to read the original plot based on the manuscripts.
Arguably, the outline had remained the same:
(1) Albert had disappeared
(2) A parcel was delivered from Rockstown with Albert’s name
(3) Candy saw Terry in the roadside theatre
(4) Candy was home alone. Georges was coming to pick her up.
However, the details in each episode were quite different. I’ve seen those pictures from the magazine before, but too bad I do not have any copy of those pictures myself. Instead, let me translate and paraphrase the comparisons based on the page on Candy Candy Bootlegs. Before I begin, if you have the manga, please turn to the episode soon after Albert’s disappearance. What you have in your hands should be the right version (unless you have the Nakayoshi magazine 😉 ).
Please note that we read from right to left then top to bottom in Japanese manga, as shown below. I only show the first three pages in the correct sequence, and for the scenes that are the same the details have been omitted:
- Albert has disappeared. Candy, being alone, shuddered in loneliness. Her monologue began, “Where are you…”
- The first time I chased after Albert-san…
- He left Lakewood without saying goodbye…
- The same in London…
- But… I believed we would be able to meet again somewhere… one day he would suddenly appear in front of me…
- He was always like that…
- When I was feeling sad, when I was feeling heart-broken, Albert-san would always tenderly hold me in his arms…
- But now….
- I want to see him…. I want to see Albert-san right now
- Where should I go to find you…
- A parcel was delivered from Rockstown with Albert’s name
- Candy saw Terry in the roadside theatre. Terry saw an “illusion” of Candy amongst the guests, and his passion for acting returned
- Terry’s background was his own image being an active Broadway actor and his monologue began:
- The revival of the days at Stratford… Broadway theatre…
- That’s my acting!
- Candy was home alone. Georges was coming to pick her up. She was all by herself, immersed in her memories of her days with Albert-san:
- She looked at the matching mugs and began reminiscing…
- I like the color of this curtain. Great
- Matching pajamas?
- I bought the morning cups with initials… good bargain
- We said we were to decide together but in the end Candy has chosen it herself
- Candy’s monologue: living here alone is too lonely…
- Candy heard kids playing outside, which reminded her of her childhood on Pony’s Hill
- Pony’s Hill… children’s laughter…
- Miss Pony… Sister Lane…
- Warm light by the window, sitting together by the fireplace…
- Welcome back, Candy… this is your birthplace…
- Candy’s monologue: I want to go back to Pony’s Hill! Yes, go back! I hate being alone! And… I will find a nursing job near Pony’s Home where I can commute from there…
- Candy confirmed her origin, and when she was anticipating her future as a nurse there was a knock on the door. It was Georges when the door was opened.
Below was what got published in Nakayoshi magazine in January and February, 1979:
- Albert has disappeared. Candy, being alone, shuddered in loneliness. She discovered the badge of her prince under the pillow, which reminded her of her childhood on Pony’s Hill
- Pony’s Hill… children’s laughter…
- Miss Pony… Sister Lane…
- Warm light by the window, sitting together by the fireplace…
- Welcome back, Candy… this is your birthplace…
- Candy’s monologue: I want to go back to Pony’s Hill! Yes, go back! I hate being alone! And… I will find a nursing job near Pony’s Home where I can commute from there…
- The badge of her prince rang near her chest. Her monologue began,
- There are two badges of my prince!
- One of them… I’ve been wearing it all this time…
- The other one is from under the pillow…
- Why… in such place…
- This bed… Albert-san is using it…
- Perhaps… perhaps Albert-san is a family member of the Ardlays…?
- Albert-san is…
- Go see him… I want to see him to confirm this…
- Albert-san where are you?
- A parcel was delivered from Rockstown with Albert’s name
- Candy saw Terry in the roadside theatre. Terry saw an “illusion” of Candy amongst the guests, and his passion for acting returned
- Terry’s background was a smiling image of Candy and his monologue began:
- Even if it’s an illusion, don’t disappear!
- I’m now acting for you!
- Candy was home alone. Georges was coming to pick her up. She was all by herself, immersed in her memories of her days with Albert-san. Her monologue began,
- Albert-san, I’m going back to Pony’s Home
- Living here alone is too lonely…
- Albert-san… the first time I chased after Albert-san…
- He left Lakewood without saying goodbye…
- The same in London…
- But… I believed we would be able to meet again somewhere… one day he would suddenly appear in front of me…
- He was always like that…
- When I was feeling sad, when I was feeling heart-broken, Albert-san would always tenderly hold me in his arms…
- I want to see him…. I want to see Albert-san as soon as possible…
- As Candy’s longing for Albert-san intensified, there was a knock on the door. Candy thought, Albert-san! It was Georges when the door was opened.
So what do you think? Personally, I prefer the official version much more, because Candy went to Rockstown because she wanted to see Albert, not because she wanted to confirm his identity. What’s more, one of my favourite scenes was missing:
But the major complaints from Nagita were not about any of this. First, the Incident of Two Badges had somewhat ruined the story (no more surprise near the end), although the editor and Igarashi gave the excuse that it was convenient to use some foreshadowing at this point. In addition, Nagita planned to portray Candy and Terry’s individual decisions to restore their careers, having overcome the pains from the bitter breakup, but the changes made without permission had placed more emphasis on romance. In fact, Nagita and the original editor aimed to publish a drama about the growth of a young girl, but Igarashi and the new editor wanted to change the direction into making it a “sweet love story”.
Last but not the least, in the manga, when Candy found Terry in the miserable roadside theatre, she was rather saddened. Yet, in CCFS, I feel that she was more disappointed and vexed, and she almost wanted to jump on the stage to punch Terry. I wonder if this was actually what Nagita had written in her manuscripts, because this part is similar in the old novel (but instead of writing about this to Miss Baker, Candy put this in her unsent letter to Terry). Anyway, thank you all for reading, and I hope you find this lengthy post interesting, not confusing. 😉
Pleased to read your new post @Ms Puddle.😊
Much as I admire Yumiko Igarashi’s artwork, I’m categorically against her ill-treatment and disrespect against Keiko Nagita. Unless it has escaped my notice, I have never read such sort of betrayal and conflict between artist and writer in any other Japanese manga or anime. It would be safe to arrive to the conclusion that Nagita is not the problem here but Igarashi. She turned out to be just as disrespectful and dishonest against Mann Izawa (writer of Lady Georgie!). Nagita and Izawa had no other alternative but take Igarashi to court so as to protect the rights to their own stories. Imagine how Stephen King would have felt if one of the illustrators of his novels tried to infringe upon his rights as the legal writer of his own books..
Anyway, I’ve been back at work for quite some time and only a handful of us are adhering to the safety measures surrounding COVID-19. Our employer is trying to do her best to maintain order and she’s even threatened reckless employees with serious sanctions but they’re still not listening. I’ve tried talking sense to some of my colleagues but they trust their loony conspiracy theorists than actual scientists.
I don’t know whether to call all this a surreal situation or the theater of the absurd.
Hello there, @Irana93! It must be somewhat frustrating to see most of your coworkers not adhering to the safety measures. 🙁 Some people think their personal rights matter the most and just can’t see that they are being completely selfish 🙁
About Igarashi’s conflicts with the authors, I wonder if those two were the only ones she had issues with. If so, these two mangas happened to be Igarashi’s bests in her career too. 🤔
Please take good care of yourself, my friend!
Yes, their selfishness is appalling but it’s also a matter of ignorance. Just because my colleagues and I are under 40 yrs old, they’re complacent that COVID-19 will not strike them hard. Scientists all over the world have already explained repeatedly that COVID-19 is dangerous for all ages and no one is immune to it. There are so many cases of people under the age of 20 who got infected and suffered greatly from this virus.
Concerning Igrashi’s legal feuds with other manga writers, I honestly don’t know. What has been brought to my attention are those high-profile cases in Japan involving Nagita and Izawa.
The irresponsibility permeating society is mind-boggling. If there’s anything which is spreading even faster than this global pandemic, it’s unlimited human stupidity.
Couldn’t agree with you more..
Yes, @Lynn… sadly this is true. 🙁
Yes, @Irana93! Even young children may get infected. They might not necessarily die, but damages have already been done to their lungs or other internal organs 😨
Subsequent research into COVID-19 reveals that cognitive disorders may be caused or exacerbated after becoming infected with this virus. Such complications could happen to anyone infected with COVID-19, regardless of age or medical background. In other words, a perfectly healthy and relatively young person could manage to survive after becoming infected but he or she may face severe complications for a long period of time or even permanently. There’s a lot of research being conducted and scientists keep on discovering how gravely serious this pandemic really is to the human brain and nerve system. Too bad so many people in this world continue to stubbornly refuse to pay heed to scientists’ warnings.
Yes @Irana93 I have read some articles that talked about different complications and/or potential damages (either short term or long term or both). How could people be so blind or selfish when the pandemic is far from over? 😨
At least in the past, people were ignorant due to the lack of access to information and education. Nowadays, the majority of people have comfortable access to all forms of information and can easily acquire decent education. Therefore, people may have had an excuse for their ignorance in the past but they have absolutely no excuse for their imbecility and narrow-mindedness in our modern times.
Hello,
This information about the two badges is very interesting. I had never known about it until now. The manga I have must be the official one because there aren’t two badges but only one.
My manga collection doesn’t include the colored one. I think that’s the Taiwanese one-right? I’ve seen a few pictures from that one and I don’t like the colors. I prefer the black&white one. The colored version seems to be inaccurate because it shows Annie with blonde hair but in the novel she’s a brunette. Susanna is shown to have raven-black hair but isn’t she supposed to be blonde? The novel doesn’t make it clear but in the anime she has long golden-blonde hair.
I have also come across an Italian manga which seems to have a story of its own after the official ending of the Japanese manga. It looks awful and the plot makes no sense. I doubt it that Nagita and Igarashi had ever endorsed that version. Those drawings don’t look anything like Igarashi’s.
Hope you’re alright and coping well with everything going on. Dr Fauci has made a public announcement that COVID-19 has exceeded his worst nightmares. Not a pleasant statement coming from such a distinguished immunologist.
Hi Aurora, the colored manga should be Korean version, and like you, I don’t appreciate the colouring much. I’d rather have it black and white.
The Italian manga extension was merely fanfics (made by fans who wanted a different ending) LOL… I did not read that but at a glance I think it was mainly some copy and paste with some fanarts. 😉
Best wishes to you and you take good care of yourself too, Aurora! As much as I wish Dr. Fauci was wrong I have to agree with him that we are not near the end of it yet 😷😷
Thank you, Ms Puddle, for your clarifications about the Korean manga version. I don’t know much about the various versions and translations of the manga. All I’ve got is the black and white one which is regarded as the official manga based on Candy Candy. My black and white manga collections of Candy Candy is in Japanese, French and Spanish. I’ve looked through the Italian one belonging to a friend of mine and I noticed that certain pages and scenes were missing, especially the ones having to do with Candy and Albert. I think the Italians back in the 70s and 80s were desperately clinging on Terry but the youth nowadays couldn’t care less about him. Much has changed since then and women’s emancipation has played a huge role in disavowing toxic male characters such as Terry. Progress is inevitable and in this case, I’m glad it is.
In terms of the novels, I have only got the new novel because I can’t find the old novels anywhere. There haven’t been any reprints of the older novels and I’m not too hopeful that there ever will be. I’ve read the new novel in all the three available languages and I find it strange that some fans are so upset with the French translation. Some fans accuse Pika editions of having deviated from the original text but that’s not the case at all. Of-course there will be some variations and linguistic differences but that happens in all translations. Kappalab and Arechi have also drifted a bit away from the original text but there has been no outrage in their case. Pika and Arechi are actually very similar in their style and minute translation deviations. Kappalab is hailed as more faithful to the original text but that’s not entirely accurate as deviations have been made from their part as well. Some fans have been nitpicking too much over trivial translation matters. The end-product of all three translations is pretty much the same and the meaning hasn’t been altered in the slightest.
Do you have all the translations? From what I’ve read in your blog so far, you’ve mentioned that you have read the original Japanese novel. To me, that’s what matters because you get all the information first-hand without the go-between of translators and multiple editors.
You’re welcome @Aurora. You were so right that the Italian manga editors had deliberately changed or removed the scenes between Candy and Albert. They cared too much about the fictional character Terry that they were willing to take matters into their own hands, even illegally altering the original story.
You’re not the only one who found it absurd that the French version was being criticized more than the other two. Yet I’m aware parts of the Italian version were actually misleading, as mentioned in my old posts. Nevertheless, I suppose all translations have their pros and cons, but I don’t know these languages well enough to make any meaningful comparisons. I’m so glad I have the copy of the original Japanese novel published in 2010.
As I don’t know Japanese and haven’t got the original Japanese novel accessible to me, I can only provide my own assessment of this new novel based on the Italian, French and Spanish translations which I have already read. They are official translations, nevertheless, and all three versions have been fully accredited and approved by Keiko Nagita. Obviously, none of these three languages can provide a verbatim translation from the Japanese language but the meaning of this story has remained intact and that’s what matters. Despite some very few complaining fans, the French translation is alright and it actually has far more similarities with the Spanish than the Italian one. The Italian translation has been found to have deviated from the original text in certain phrases and expressions quite a few times. In contrast to the Italian translation, the French and Spanish translators got rid of the formalities between Candy and Albert and they’re addressing each other on an intimate and informal basis in their correspondence. Besides, the title “Albert-san” doesn’t denote distance but respect. That “-san” affix is often used between lovers or even married couples. This has been specified so many times that someone must be living under a rock not to know about it.😂
Thank you @Aurora for sharing your thoughts and analysis! I met a couple years ago, and I remember the husband always affectionately called his wife 奥さん (oku-san, which translates to “wife”) 😊
You can find similar examples in British literature as well. For example, in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, Elizabeth Bennet’s parents address one another as Mr Bennet and Mrs Bennet, respectively, even though they had been married for so many years. It’s more of an honorific title which doesn’t necessarily describe distance or formality.
Yes that’s a good example, Aurora. In fact, I like Pride and Prejudice a lot 😍
So do I. It’s one of my favorite novels by Jane Austen along with “Emma” and “Persuasion”.
Hi Ms Puddle,
You’re very lucky to have a conscientious employer who protects the workforce from this deadly virus. Unfortunately, not all management is as humane and considerate.
Concerning the infamous copyright issues between Nagita and Igarashi, it’s an all too common phenomenon in Japan because copyright law isn’t as strict as it is in most countries such as the US and EU. The situation via a legal standpoint is beginning to improve in Japan but there is still so much to be done to protect the intellectual property of artists, musicians, writers, scientists and academics. To me, that new editor was just as responsible for infringing upon Nagita’s rights as Igarashi was-if not even more. That editor had no authority to follow up on Igarashi’s suggestions without prior consultation with Nagita. I empathize with Nagita’s frustration and it must be a relief for her to finally win that court battle after all these years. She must be feeling so vindicated after everything she had endured.
I couldn’t agree with you more about the plot of the original manga being far better than those additions Igarashi tried to slither in. I think she was trying to reduce Nagita’s story to a mere chick flick.
Hi Lakewood! How are you doing?
Yes I know I’m fortunate to be able to continue working from home for at least another month or so. Are you still working in your home office?
My friend who used to fly to different cities in Canada every week has stopped flying since March. They all rely on video conferencing now.
It’s nice to hear your thoughts from a lawyer’s perspective. Yes I totally agree with you both the editor and Igarashi were responsible. They teamed up against the author, it seems to me. 🙁
Other than reducing Nagita’s story to a mere chick flick, it also lessens the impact of what’s going to happen next — the discovery of Albert being WAA and also the Prince on the Hill.
Hi Ms Puddle,
I’ve been fleeting between working from home and heading to the court depending on whether I could simply meet with my clients at my home office or have to attend a serious court hearing where I must be present or represent a client. I’ve been avoiding public transport and using my car. It’s not particularly considerate to the environment but I have no other alternative since so many people are complete morons and not maintaining social distancing and wearing the proper protective face-masks.
About Igarashi’s tampering with Nagita’s story, I’ve heard that she was planning on disclosing Albert’s identity as WAA and POTH upon Candy’s return from New York, straight after her painful separation with Terry. If this is true, I could imagine that Nagita had gone through a fit and had a fiery row with Igarashi. Igarashi is a fine artist but as a writer she’s completely cringe-worthy.
Yes it’s totally understandable why you have opted to drive instead of taking public transit, Lakewood. The number of daily new cases is alarming, and that’s why our borders have remained closed.
I haven’t heard of this plan about the untimely disclosure of Albert’s identity. It’s indeed cringeworthy 😨
I would have cycled to work if the distance was reasonable. The number of confirmed cases and fatalities have spiked because we’ve got idiots living among us. Until now, most of us would just dismiss those folks as mere clowns but their reckless imbecility is dangerous to the health and safety of society. Those fools have voting rights which adds further insult to injury. It’s 2020 and they still believe what scammers and conspiracy theorists tell them instead of scientists.
In terms of Igarashi’s ‘transgressions’, there are various rumors circulating online but one of the most popular and widespread ones is the untimely disclosure of the identity of WAA/POTH. There’s also another rumor about Igarashi having drawn an image of Candy and Albert in bed where Candy is sleeping in his arms without clothes and he’s covering her with the bed sheet. Have you ever heard of that one or is it just a hoax?
I vaguely recall someone telling me about that image but I’ve never seen it… 😨 Perhaps it was a fanart?
Sigh… Lakewood, I heard that some refused to believe the doctors even when they were confirmed to be infected 😑. We do what we can to protect ourselves 😷
Those bloggers claim that the aforesaid illustration belongs to Igarashi but there’s no evidence to back it up. For my part, I have never seen this drawing at any CC-related blog or website. It would be wise and sensible to dismiss that claim as mere hearsay since there is no credible evidence available and accessible to everyone.
Hi Lakewood, I think I now remember which image it was… That Candy was naked and Albert covered her up with a bedsheet or something like that. I think it was a fanart based on the anime version. May I quote your comment if I do find it? 🙂
I have been looking for that illustration myself but to no avail. It’s probably just hearsay or a hoax. There was no mention of it being fanart, however; the claims were all directed to Igarashi as being the one who drew it. Unless I find indisputable evidence that this illustration exists, I’ll just take it as read that it doesn’t and it’s based on groundless online rumors.
Anyway, I’ve seen one myself but I’m not sure if it’s the one you referred to, @Lakewood. I might not be able to find it now though.
Very interesting article, Ms Puddle! 👍🏼 👍🏼
I never knew that the author and illustrator had such a belligerent relationship. It is unethical of the illustrator to try to change the story without the author’s consent. I could only imagine how betrayed she must have felt when she returned to Japan only to find out that so much had been going on behind her back while she was abroad.
Just like you, I prefer the original structure of the story. The idea of the two badges sounds ludicrous. I am glad that the author’s story-line remains as the official one.
If there are any other changes or deviations from the author’s original story-line, please feel free to share them with us.
Thank you so much.🙏🏼
Hi Gabriella, how are you doing? Thank you for your encouraging feedback! 🤗
I guess the tension between the author and the illustrator became thicker as Candy Candy grew more and more popular. After all, Igarashi was very talented and her illustrations are considered top-notch even in today’s standard. Her own stories were not as popular though, and two of her most successful projects were authored by others, Candy Candy and Georgie.
Glad to hear you also prefer the original plot too, and yes, the idea of two badges was kinda strange. Even if Albert had another one why did he leave it under his pillow? 😅
If I am not mistaken, Yumiko Igarashi also had legal conflicts with the writer of Georgie. Igarashi is a remarkable artist but she should not be infringing upon the intellectual property of other writers. She has clearly crossed the line and not only once. It is good to know that Keiko Nagita finally won the court case after so many years of bitter conflict. ⚖️
Yes Gabriella that’s what I heard too that Igarashi had issues with Georgie’s writer as well. Sigh…
Yes, she had legal feuds with both writers simultaneously.
Thanks Gabriella for the confirmation 👍
You’re most welcome.😊
Thank you Ms Puddle and Fay for providing all this information. Imagine that certain fans actually denied the existence of the old CC novel. Not only does the old CC novel exist, but it has undergone many revisions from the late 70s until the early 2000s.
Hi Sarah! Are you back to office or still working from home?
I can hardly imagine how some fans can deny the existence of the old novel when the majority of CC fan pages have mentioned about its various editions… Yes, it’s been revised several times, and you know what? I remember reading about the comparison between the first edition and the second or third edition. The famous “P.S. I loved you” line was added in the later editions but not in the very first edition. This is kept in CCFS for obvious reasons. 😉
Back at the office for some time now but I’m not complaining because many people I know have lost their jobs. Even though the danger of this pandemic is undeniable, people still need to put food on the table and pay their bills.
As for the old CC novel, the major revisions had to do with the omission of Igarashi’s drawings ever since the legal battle had become even nastier than it already was. The omission of Igarashi’s awesome drawings has had a severe impact on the novel because it really can’t stand on its own without the visuals.
Regarding that phrase “P.S. I loved you..”, the Spanish translators added the phrase “so much”. LoL
I see, Sarah. Well, take good care of yourself and stay safe!
About Spanish translation, you mean CCFS? LOL… That’s what I consider “extra” because Candy had toned that down when compared to her love declaration at the end of her diary. 😉
The past tense (P.S. I loved you..) is retained in the Spanish translation too so the meaning is the same, nonetheless. If Candy continued to have passionate feelings for Terry, she would have said something in the lines of “I’ll always be in love with you..” or “My feelings (or desire) will never change for you”, etc. The past tense puts an end to her passion for Terry because she’s no longer a vulnerable and insecure teenager but a fully grown adult woman who has clearly moved on in her life.
Yes it’s so true, Sarah. There’s no reason for Candy to lie, and she seemed quite sincere in wishing Terry and Susanna happiness and adding that Susanna was a very nice person. Candy clearly had no grudges against them and there was absolutely no hint of sadness in this unsent letter to Terry.
In all three translations-Italian, French and Spanish, Candy uses the past tense when signing off her unsent letter to Terry. Nagita deployed this past tense so as to specifically declare that Candy’s love for Terry belongs to the distant past. It was a phase in her life which was formative up to a certain point but not definitive in her life.
Now, about Candy’s feelings for Susanna, I’m convinced that she did feel a certain form of resentment against her and rightfully so. Yet, as the years had gone by and Candy gradually became more mature physically and psychologically, she arrived to the conclusion that Terry was right about choosing Susanna instead of her. She makes this clear in her unsent letter to Terry where she admits that Terry made the choice and not her. Albeit not stated anywhere in the text (apart from rumors), perhaps there was something going on between Terry and Susanna. Nobody can rule out that Terry and Susanna hadn’t started flirting or even dating before Terry discovered that Candy had returned to America. Nagita never rules out that those rumors circulating about Terry and Susanna being lovers are either true or false. All we know is that Candy is trying to convince herself that Terry is true to her but that’s never confirmed in the text since we don;t get Terry’s side of the story. Susanna would most certainly never tell Candy that she had any sort of fling with Terry because that would be crass.
In turn, Candy appears to be content in her unsent letter to Terry and she holds no grudges against Susanna because she’s fallen in love with Albert. It’s obvious that she’s smitten with Albert because she never stops talking about him in her letters to her friends. She even devotes a considerable section of her unsent letter to Terry to talk about Albert and compares him to Albert. As this is an unsent letter, Candy reveals her own inner feelings as if writing in her diary. Albert is all over the place when it comes to Candy documenting her thoughts and feelings on paper and this constitutes indisputable textual evidence in Section 3 and the Epilogue of the CCFS.
Well said, Sarah!! 👍👏 I can’t agree with you more, and in addition to what you have mentioned, I only want to bring up the point that Terry did not promise Candy anything when he left London. Those who said he loved her deeply should think again. Yes he did go to Pony’s Home for a brief visit but that could be his way to close that chapter in his life. If he had been serious about Candy, he would have left some contact info at Pony’s Home or at least said something like he would come again.
No doubt Terry had feelings for Candy but she wasn’t the most important aspect of his life as he had other aspirations and career-oriented ambitions of much higher priority. He was doing perfectly fine as a budding thespian before finding out that Candy was in Chicago. He had moved on just fine without her.
Moreover, Terry’s subsequent devastation and psychological breakdown did not involve his separation with Candy alone but it also included his guilt surrounding Susanna’s tragic accident and grave injuries which ensued. Who wouldn’t feel like absolute crap knowing that someone literally risked life and limb for her/him? Even though it wasn’t his fault, there’s no way Terry would be able to liberate himself from feeling awful when watching a young and beautiful talented actress as Susanna condemned as a paraplegic for life. It’s a sheer fallacy to argue that Terry was devastated only because he broke up with Candy. Of-course, this separation would have had a heavy impact on him but as in the case of him leaving Candy behind at St Paul’s school, Terry would have eventually got through it and moved on as he did during his initial acting career steps in New York. Candy was dear to him but not of vital importance in his life and he had already confirmed that when he abandoned her in London. This is clear and transparent as water.
You’re absolutely right when you say that Terry could have entrusted his contact details to Ms Pony and Sister Lane during his brief visit to the orphanage. Even if he didn’t have a permanent address of his own, he could have left his mother’s contact details since he had reconciled with her. Besides, his mother was fond of Candy and she would have been pleased to provide her contact details to contribute in maintaining their correspondence.
When there’s a will there’s a way.😉
Oh yes, Sarah, when there’s a will there’s a way!! 💪 Other than what you’ve already said, Terry could have just asked Miss Pony for the mailing address. Once he was settled down in New York he could start contacting Candy somehow.
I have no doubt Terry had feelings for Candy, but she was not as important to him as many fans have claimed. Sarah you’re absolutely right that he had other things in mind with higher priorities.
I totally agree with you that Terry had been doing well and moving forward without Candy, and he suffered from depression later not just because he had lost Candy but also because of Susanna’s injuries as well as his career going downhill.
Well said. Some fans claim that Albert had also abandoned Candy when he left for Africa just as Terry had abandoned her when he left for the United States but that’s a bogus argument because Albert wasn’t Candy’s boyfriend and he had no obligations towards her. He saved her from child trafficking in Mexico and brought her in the Ardaly family but that was only in response to the persistent pleas of Anthony, Archie and Stear. Albert had no obligation to save Candy. Instead, he saved her out of sheer humanity and kindness. From there on, Albert had every right to pursue his own dreams as he was a young man himself without requiring anyone else’s permission. Just as Candy has the right to act on her won accord, the same applies for Albert and for everyone else in the fictitious as well as real world. No double-standards here.
My sentiments exactly, Michelle!! Albert really did not owe Candy anything when he left for Africa. To her, he was a good friend. To him, he’d already given her the best possible prospects to help her.
Thanks. Tbh, I really don’t care about silly arguments, especially those which have to do with Albert being an adoptive father. There is no spin-doctoring this; Albert was a young man who was single and in search of his own meaningful life away from those pressuring Ardlay elders. Never had he considered adopting someone, let alone a teenage girl. Besides, there is no existing law which has ever permitted a single male in his early 20s to adopt a teenage female who is only a decade younger than him. Back then, the term “adoption” constituted an umbrella term for any form of guardianship, whether legal or unofficial by world of mouth. What also matters and arguably the most is that Albert never wanted to be the guardian of anyone. As you’ve already elucidated, Albert had to take drastic measures to save Candy from harm and the only way was to become her guardian. There is no proof in the novel confirming that he had actually taken any legal measures. Presumably, he relied on the notion that his aunt wouldn’t dare contradict or defy him, otherwise, he would take revenge on her by exposing her bluff and disclosing the truth that William A. Ardlay is not some formidably powerful old man but a lanky hipster-like 20-something nature-loving dude who just graduated from university.
Exactly! Some people try to idealize Aunt Elroy’s feelings for Albert by saying that she covered for him out of love for him. I’m not saying she couldn’t care less but the truth always lies somewhere in the middle and in her case, she covered for him because if Albert unveiled his true identity and informed everyone involved about the tons of lies disseminated by the Ardlay elders, then a huge scandal would have erupted. Needless to mention that the rivals wanting to become head of the Ardlay clan would contest Aunt Elroy’s authority and possibly eliminate her influence entirely. The bottom line is that if Aunt Elroy dared to interfere in Albert’s protection over Candy, his response could have proven detrimental against her and the Ardlay elders. Albert was young but he had become an adult and had full authority to wreak havoc within the Ardlay clan and tear their establishment asunder.
You’re right @Michelle. In his letter to Candy, Albert briefly explains about the intense rivalry amongst the prominent members of the Ardlay family following the untimely death of his father. His father had been revered as the head of the Ardlay father and when he died, certain rivals tried to take his place and his fortune. Nagiat mentioned in her recent interview in Paris that she wanted to write more about the Ardlays but the publishers’ demands were too restrictive and she had to cut the novel down to the size they demanded.
Hi @Anita and @Michelle, if Nagita sensei had been given the chance to write more, what would you have preferred to read? If I could choose I would want Nagita to write more details about Candy’s trip to Rockstown, her grand discovery of Albert’s identity and / or how Albert saved her from the forced engagement party, etc.
I meant to say the Ardlay family (not Ardlay father) but the spellcheck app got in the way.😉
Of-course! All Terry had to do was request for their address and Miss Pony and Sister Lane would have been delighted to provide it. It’s such a pity that his fans fail to understand the obvious.😂
The bottom line is that Terry had numerous ways to keep in touch with Candy but he didn’t resort to any of them because he simply didn’t want to. He wanted to move on in his life and put the past behind him. It would be wise for his fans to follow suit.😉
It’s worth mentioning that Albert had been far more considerate by sending a letter to Candy after leaving for Africa. Even though he was in such a remote and far away land as Kenya, he still managed to find the way to keep in touch with her.
Precisely! I agree with you, @Sarah. Terry had chosen to move on. His feelings for Candy were somewhat rekindled when he found out she was back to the United States, but sadly their relationship didn’t grow much and was cut short by the tragic accident.
You brought up an interesting point about Albert writing to Candy from another continent to inform her of his whereabouts! Yet he cut off his ties with Georges (the Ardlays). It was fate (Nagita) that brought him back to Chicago (and Candy). 😉
Apparently, Nagita didn’t want to let go of Albert and she was intent on keeping him as a prospective suitor for Candy. If she wanted to dispel the chances of Candy and Albert being a couple, she would have “paired” him with another woman and she wouldn’t have devoted an entire section delving into the private letters between Candy and Albert, placing this section at the end of the novel so as to establish “impact” as Nagita had stated herself in those exact words.😉
Exactly, @Sarah. That’s why I think if Terry is indeed “Anohito” Nagita sensei would have brought him back into Candy’s life rather than being a part of her distant memory even in the epilogue.
In fact, Terry’s name is mentioned only once in the Epilogue and that’s in the Lakewood scene where Albert takes the initiative and mentions him by returning the diary to Candy. This is a crucial moment because Candy could have responded that she’ll keep the diary as it’s something essential to her. She doesn’t though. Instead, Candy writes back to Albert explaining to him that she doesn’t need to re-open that diary because it belongs to the past. She makes her point of moving on and putting the past behind her forever even more clearly when she tells Albert that she wants to give the diary back to him as he had given his badge back to her. If certain folks don’t see this as Candy’s love declaration to Albert, then they’re truly blind and downright delusional.
May I quote this comment, @Sarah, in a new post?
If my comment is useful to this discussion, feel free to use it in your future post. Just let me know if you need more sources and details.
Thank you @Sarah! 🤗
Dear Ms Puddle, I’m really impressed with your thoughtful analysis surrounding the various artistic mediums of Keiko Nagita’s narrative. It is quite obvious that her original tale had been undergoing many alterations and Yumiko Igarashi’s lack of cooperation sure did not help in any way whatsoever. This may be the key reason why Keiko Nagita did not want to write anything further about Candy and she admits that her finalized story about Candy is based on lazy writing. Yet, she wanted to close that topic once and for all even if the story is incomplete and imperfect, as the author admits herself.
Hi Christine, how are you?
Thank you for your encouraging feedback, and yes it might be one of the reasons why Nagita sensei wanted to close that chapter once and for all. Another reason could be that she’s getting tired (or old?)… 🤔
In her recent interview, Nagita did actually mention that irrespective of fans’ demands for continuing Candy’s story, she probably won’t do it because she considers herself to be too old for that and she wants to take a step back from all this.
Thank you for taking the time to compare and contrast those two versions of the manga. It goes to show that Nagita and Igarashi had been at loggerheads over the structure and thematic approach to Candy’s story since the 1970s. Greed got in the way and the rest is history..
I’ll just add that I’ve recently read a section of the old CC novel where Candy had written a (sort of) poem to Albert where she described herself as a water nymph wandering about at a lake near Pony’s home. It’s one of those letters which is omitted in the CCFS. Have you read this section?
Yes Myra I’ve read this one in the old novel spoilers. It’s very cute but too bad it was removed in CCFS. However, there are new ones in the Epilogue that are also good, like Albert and Candy toured around Lakewood and he unlocked the memorial hall just for her, etc.
Arguably, that specific poem-like letter was removed in the 2010 novel because Nagita wanted to maintain the mystery surrounding the identity of ‘anohito’. That letter was very flirtatious from Candy’s part and all too revealing about who her lover is.
My sentiments exactly, Myra. This was replaced by Candy’s brief letter to Albert complaining about his long absence. It’s also cute but saying that she was a nymph is totally a different level. 😊
In the new novel, however, there are much more intriguing details in the letters exchanged between Candy and Albert. There are some significant details which hint that those two blondes had been meeting up more often than originally fathomed. Candy drops a few hints about returning the badge to Albert then she mentions that at some point he gave it back to her and so forth. When did those events occur? They’re not stated anywhere in their letters explicitly. It should be taken into account that people avoid writing too many details in their correspondence for fear of having a third (and often unwanted) party accessing their private letters. It’s like the phone and email messages these days. We avoid providing vital information because we don’t want others to find out about our secrets or retrieve our personal data. Especially in those days back in the early 20th century, women like Candy were terrified of appearing flirtatious with men; Candy had already been slut-shamed back at the boarding school in England. She wouldn’t want to be slut-shamed again for having lived with Albert. If you read love letters during WWI and WWII, you’ll notice how lovers avoid putting down in writing anything which could expose them to others, especially women who were targeted the most by misogynists. Most love letters seem rather formal and detached but this is only a facade and thus keeping appearances to others. This is most certainly the reason why Candy kept on writing to Albert and urging him that they should discuss further when the two of them meet in person and above all, in private. She kept on saying that she has much to tell him but she doesn’t want it in writing but to tell him in person. This all makes perfect sense, especially when Candy adds that she wants to spend time with Albert and have him all to herself. Those are not words expressed for a mere friend or a relative but for a lover or love interest. Plain and simple.
That’s an interesting idea, Myra! 👍👏 Yet I think Candy was already quite honest about her feelings when compared to Albert’s writing. He was more open in CCFS than in the old novel but I can’t agree with you more that there are enough intriguing details in their correspondence. I’m not sure if they did meet up more often though, but for sure they both missed each other a lot. Even Albert said he wanted to get Candy’s letter(s). He directly used a personal word, ほしい, which means “I want” or “I desire”. In a sense he was quite frank too.
Yes indeed Candy’s demands were undoubtedly targeted to a love interest, not a family member or relative. One has to be blind to ignore that. 😅
It’s not a matter of honesty but a matter of keeping appearances. By no means has Candy ever been dishonest about her feelings. On the contrary, she’s far too honest for her own good. However, both Candy and Albert are maintaining decorum because there’s always the possibility of someone else getting hold of their letters. Let’s not forget that Candy has very bitter experiences about Susanna having seized her letters to Terry and kept them from him for a considerable period of time. Imagine what would have happened if Eliza, Neil or Aunt Elroy got wind of those letters between Candy and Albert. Even though Candy and Albert are controlling themselves as much as possible, there is such evident yearning and mutual flirting in those letters that the Lagans and the Ardlays would have found those letters scandalous, especially during the early 20th century. Eliza had already slut-shamed Candy in the past and she would have no qualms in doing so again if she ever had those letters in her hands.
Regarding the times Candy and Albert met up, it’s obvious from what is stated between them in their letters that we as readers aren’t getting the whole story. There’s been some back and forth going on with Albert’s badge and I doubt that this whole drama happened in one go. Those two had met up at some point when Candy gave him back his badge. At a later date, they met up again and Albert gave his badge back to her. Apparently, no one is in the position to provide an exact figure as to how many times Candy and Albert got together but it’s already been proven that they had met a couple of times due to the aforesaid badge issue.
I agree with you that whoever continues to believe that Candy and Albert are just friends or “good ole bros” have completely lost the plot.
These are all valid points, Myra! 👍 Aunt Elroy might have collapsed if she got to read one of the replies written by her dear nephew 😂
About the return of the badge, I thought Candy could have easily returned it to Albert when she was in Chicago for her birthday party. Albert could either present it back to her as his gift right then or during their day trip to Lakewood.
I have a feeling that Albert had stayed in Brazil for a long long time for expanding the family business, so long that Candy refused to write a long reply and demanded to see him in person instead. When he returned, it was a surprise visit, and he took her to Lakewood.
Just my two cents of course. 😊
Collapsed? Aunt Elroy would have had a heart attack if she read those letters between Candy and Albert. Lol
Based on a close reading of the text, it doesn’t seem that all that back and forth with the Ardlay badge had occurred during the already mentioned visits in the letters. Otherwise, Candy would have added them in her letters in situ when talking about those visits. Take note that the whole badge drama is very personal and it wouldn’t have taken place during parties or other events where a lot of people have attended. I don’t think the two of them would have tried to go somewhere private during those parties in fear of arousing concern and rumors from others. I’m quite certain that the whole badge drama had taken place during moments not explicitly mentioned in those letters between Candy and Albert. It also seems that Albert is far more tight-lipped about it than Candy who is more garrulous per se.
I totally agree with you about Albert’s long-term business project in Brazil. There’s no clear indication as to how long he had to be there for business purposes but it would be safe to assume that it was for a lengthy period of time. As you have astutely pointed out, Candy missed Albert terribly and she kept on nagging him to see her as soon as possible upon his return to the United States.
Yes @Myra, she would have had heart attack indeed… LOL
Maybe you’re right about the return of the badge, although I can’t really figure out how or when Albert could afford the time to meet up with Candy before setting off for South America. I’m convinced their day trip to Lakewood happened soon after his return to US. Imagine Candy’s surprise when she saw him after his long absence. They had both missed each other for sure. 😍
The distance between the city of Chicago and the periphery of Lake Michigan within the state of Illinois (bordering the northernmost Indiana and Michigan) isn’t too great. Given the fact that Albert’s mansion was situated in the outskirts of the city, it wouldn’t take him more than a couple of hours via car to get to the orphanage. It wouldn’t have been an issue for him to get a chauffeur to pick up Candy and drive her to the Chicago mansion either. Maybe Albert drove over there to pick her up himself in order to avoid any outside gossip or backbiting.
The orphanage is situated somewhere along the banks of Lake Michigan and Keiko Nagita wanted it to be within the state of Michigan and not Indiana (as mentioned in the anime). Either way, it’s still within reasonable driving proximity with the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbia.
The question which arises is where Lakewood is situated. I’ve checked online maps and there are many places in the US bearing that name. In particular, there’s the village of Lakewood in Illinois which was established as a village settlement in circa 1933; and there’s the Lakewood Village Club in Michigan. Both of these rural areas are very posh. There are various other places bearing the Lakewood name but I won’t bother exploring each and every village or town. Is there any mention where Lakewood is situated in the CCFS? Does it specify whether it’s in Illinois or Michigan? Perhaps the orphanage was near the Gran Rapids alongside Lake Michigan.
Come to think of it, Grand Rapids, Michigan is too far north and it’s also a major city. There’s no mention of it in the novel and Candy had said that the kids at the orphanage would be so excited to go to the city of Chicago, presumably because it’s nearer. Maybe the orphanage is somewhere near South Haven or St Joseph, Michigan.
Hi Myra, if I remember correctly, in the passage when Stewart came to pick up Candy from the Pony’s Home, he implied the Lagan’s place was far away and urged Candy to rest, something like that. I’ll double check the novel later. 😊
You’re right. Stewart tells Candy that they’ve got a long way to go but that’s it. Cars back in the early 1900s weren’t anywhere near as fast as they are nowadays so an hour drive in a modern day car could have been a several hour drive back then.
Yes @Myra. Stewart picked up Candy when the kids were taking their afternoon nap (presumably not long after lunch) and they arrived at the Lagan’s mansion when the sun was setting.
By early 1920s the cars might have improved but not necessarily the road conditions. Someone once pointed out that Albert must have driven in the dark after he dropped off Candy at Pony’s Home. Imagine the number of hours they had spent together that day since his surprise appearance. He truly made extra effort to see her. As I have mentioned before, he finally fulfilled her birthday wish, roughly about a year later.
In my imagination, Candy could return the badge to Albert that morning before leaving Pony’s Home, and he could present it back to her as his gift hours later (may be somewhere in Lakewood or inside the memorial hall to make it even more special).
Those are significant factors you have taken into consideration, Ms Puddle. Thanks for pointing them out. It’s so apparent that Candy and Albert were head-over-heels in love with each other because they would do anything possible to see each other again even though they were so knackered after a hard day’s work. Candy was so tired after working at the clinic and taking care of the orphan children, yet, she still couldn’t sleep due to her yearning for Albert (as she says herself in her letters to Albert). In turn, Albert would try to sneak a moment from his multiple and intense business obligations so as to write a response letter to Candy and vice-versa.
Well said, @Myra! I totally agree with you that Candy and Albert evidently missed each other a lot. It’s unbelievable why some readers can be so blind 😉
Thank you Myra! I was looking for these manga pictures myself but to no avail 🙁 … I’m not sure if you meant these discrepancies awhile ago though.
Anyway, I personally think it was wrong for Igarashi and the editor to change the story without getting permission from the author. Greed might be a factor but pride might also be another cause. It was near the end of a highly successful story after all.
Couldn’t agree more. Igarashi has a massive ego but Nagita seems to be far more unobtrusive and negotiable. If the sources I have rwad are accurate, Nagita even tried to reconcile with Igarashi by offering 50% share of the profit coming from the manga and anime but Igarashi wanted it all. Crazy if true.
read
I certainly hope it was not true that she wanted more, Myra 🙄 50% share is generous and also reasonable. After all, Igarashi’s artworks are undeniably appealing.
It’s such a pity that their friendship soured to such an irreversible extent. I had read in some digitized clippings from older newspapers that Nagita and Igarashi were planning on collaborating on subsequent projects together. Whilst Nagita acknowledged Igarashi’s worth as an artist, Igarashi did not respond to that and respect Nagita as a writer. It was a one-way-street and that’s not a way to maintain a friendship.
That’s a pity indeed, @Myra. I did not know that, and Nagita’s most popular story is undoubtedly Candy Candy.
In its concept and creative manifestation, the story of Candy appears to have had two “mothers”-Keiko Nagita and Yumiko Igarashi-just like Candy had two ladies taking care of her when abandoned at the orphanage. Unlike Miss Pony and Sister Lane, Nagita and Igarashi did not maintain the integrity of their once highly productive and successful collaboration. Real life does tend to contradict the idealistic and romanticized relationships found in fictitious narratives.
Well said, @Myra! Can’t agree with you more. I guess pride and greed had crept in, turning these two talented ladies into enemies. 🙁
I’ve heard that Yumiko Igarashi managed to settle a significant portion of the lawsuit having to do with the CC/CCFS visuals by being granted full rights. This means that no one else can provide official illustrations of the CC/CCFS without the permission of Igarashi. Is this true? I know that Keiko Nagita has been granted full rights for her written work on CC/CCFS and Igarashi full rights for her artwork. However, I was surprised to find out that anyone who wishes to illustrate this story by Nagita will have to obtain rights from Igarashi. If this news is accurate, then Igarashi has really managed to get a large portion of the profit related to Candy Candy. Let’s be real here.. What has made this story so popular worldwide are the visuals and the story tags along as a distant second.
No @Aurora I only know that Keiko Nagita could no longer use any of Yumiko Igarashi’s illustrations done for Candy Candy.
Yet, Nagita’s story itself also appealing. Igarashi is a very talented artist but she’s not a good story writer (teller).
If only there were credible and objective online sources available discussing the legal battle and the underlying causes of this controversy between the author and illustrator of Candy Candy. All I have found until now are fanpages, some of which disingenuously priding themselves on being “professional ” or “objective” but that’s all a load of pretentious rubbish. There are many websites and blogs based on fans and each one will provide an opinion based on personal feelings rather than impartial and credible testimonials.
I agree, @Aurora. What we do know is that the chance of the author and the illustrator collaborating again is slim. 🙁
Hello Ms Puddle,
I agree with you that the COVID-19 hazard has become the “new normal” in everyone’s lives worldwide. It’s difficult getting accustomed to wearing that mask, especially during the summer but it’s imperative that we maintain all safety measures to protect others and ourselves.
Changing the subject, I have also read all the contributions for your writing marathon and I am impressed with the writing skills and coherency of everyone who submitted. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you to select the one which best suits the requirements.
Resuming to the comparison between the old and new novels, there is so much to be discussed and I won’t get into it just now. However, I will say that both old and new novels have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, I consider the old novel to have been better written in terms of character development because we get to know the background story of certain significant characters such as George. We also have more background information regarding Terry and we get to know how he develops as an adult when he pursues his acting career in the United States. In the new novel, however, all the significant information about George has been truncated and we have absolutely no idea what’s going on in Terry’s mind when he is an actor in New York. In the new novel, it’s as if time stopped for Terry ever since he left St Paul’s just as time stopped for Anthony after his accident, albeit for entirely different reasons, apparently. Nonetheless, Nagita puts a “tombstone” not only on Anthony but also on any direct access to Terry’s mindset. We only get to know some random bits and pieces about him via Candy but that’s only through her own impressions and not based on credible textual evidence regarding Terry’s direct thoughts. The manga and anime did a far better job in keeping Terry relevant throughout the story, whereas in the new novel he’s reduced to a distant memory after he leaves for the United States. All we’ve got is some scrap paper with a couple of sentences signed at the end with “T.G.” initials, allegedly attributed to Terry.
Yet, the new novel gives considerable weight to Albert’s character development. Moreover, it’s noteworthy that the the series of letters exchanged between Candy and Albert is placed at the end of the novel-the Epilogue-in both the old and new novels. I like the ways in which the new novel makes Candy and Albert behave in a more mature way and their interaction is more intimate and intense than the old novel which was more playful and sometimes a bit frivolous.
I’ll expand a bit more on the comparison between the old and new novels when I get some time off from work. Right now I’m terribly busy.
See you around and take care of yourself.
Hi Lynn, It’s nice to know you’re safe! Like you, I also wear masks to protect myself and others, and luckily the summer this year is not as hot as previous years. I can still work from home until further notice. I know I’m one of the fortunate ones because some of my friends are going back to working in their offices.
Thank you Lynn for your contribution too, and yes I was debating which one to choose when I got to my final shortlist. You’re absolutely right that all entries are of high quality! 👏👍
I agree with you concerning Terry’s character in CCFS. I’ll read Fay’s copy of CC old novel to find out more, but for now, you nailed it by saying that Nagita sensei put a tombstone on his character after he left London. We only know about Terry from Candy’s perspectives.
I also think the correspondence between Candy and Albert in CCFS are more intimate when compared to the ones in the old novel. They were flirting with each other at times but not as frivolous.
Take your time, Lynn. Looking forward to hearing more from you. 😊
Thank you for your understanding and I’m looking forward to resuming our talks very soon!
Glad to hear from you again @Ms Puddle!
I have enjoyed reading your thoughts on the old novel. I’ve read a few sections myself and so far, I prefer the new novel because it depicts Candy as a more mature person and the readers also have plenty of insight surrounding Albert’s character which seems to be more developed than in the old novel.
It appears that Nagita wanted to provide even further development to Candy and Albert’s characters and she has certainly elevated Albert in her new novel making him progressive, noble and independent.
Hi Anita! I’m glad to hear from you too! Have you heard that herd immunity might not work after all?
I also prefer CCFS overall, as I have mentioned already. Yes both Candy and Albert had better character development, and other than the new traits you mentioned about Albert, I found him more human and sensitive. It also seems Candy was over Terry by the time she wrote her letter to Miss Baker and unsent letter to Terry. It wasn’t like that in the old novel.
Herd immunity was just a dodgy concept deployed by a mere handful of (pseudo- or corrupt) scientists. Those countries which tried to implement herd immunity such as Sweden and the UK failed miserably and have only managed to make the matter even worse than it already is.
Sigh… This reminds me. I have mixed feelings about vaccines… When it becomes available, do I want to be a guinea pig? 🙄😣
Have we got much of a choice when faced with such a lethal virus?
True…
By the way, I’ve got a question regarding the CCFS and I would appreciate your perspective on this. Did Candy have her jewelry box when she had received the invitation from Eleanor Baker? I have the impression that she didn’t or if she did, it’s not specified in the text itself. In other words, we don’t really know whether Candy owned that jewelry box before or after receiving Eleanor Baker’s invitation. There are some theories circulating from both sides of the fandom that ano hito had given Candy that jewelry box prior to their marriage or before moving to the UK but there doesn’t appear to be any textual evidence to support any of those claims. What are your thoughts about this?
Good question, Anita! From what I remember I think Candy wrote that letter to Miss Baker around the time she wrote her unsent letter to Terry. If this is the case, it happened before Albert’s confession on Pony’s Hill. What do you think?
But let me re-read the relevant parts of the novel and get back to you on this.
Based on my reading of the text, I remember Candy mentioning that she had gone to Rockstown in search for her friend without adding any further info about him turning out to be WAA. In her unsent letter to Terry, however, Candy makes it clear that she knows about Albert’s true identity. I’ll also check my sources again and see if there are any differences among the Italian, French and Spanish translations. If I correctly recall, there aren’t any significant differences in meaning among those translations.
Thanks again for your time and for your insight.
Hi Anita, thanks for your patience. I reread the letter to Miss Baker and Candy wrote “it’s been a long time since you called me out in Rockstown”. Remember Candy was picked up by Georges soon after her trip to Rockstown, so even though the timing is unclear in CCFS, it’s safe to assume Candy had long discovered Albert’s true identity by the time she declined Miss Baker’s invitation. After all, it should take considerable time for Terry to regain Robert Hathaway’s trust to be cast as the main character. Therefore, I’ve always thought Miss Baker’s invitation had triggered Candy to write another unsent letter to Terry. You can tell she was quite over Terry by then (which is not the case in the equivalent letter in the old novel).
You’re right Candy did not mention Albert being WAA in her letter to Miss Baker, only that he was her 恩人 (someone who had helped her a lot). That’s gender neutral, as far as I know.
Also, perhaps Candy didn’t see the need to explain who he was because Miss Baker didn’t know him?
I’m curious about the discussion of when exactly Candy received the expensive jewellery box. Why does it matter? What are they trying to prove? 😉
To me, the fact that Candy could inherit the family heirloom implies that she was married to Anohito, because in Japanese she used the adjective 贅沢 to describe the item, which means extravagant or luxurious. Not only that, she added “too”, so that means it was “way too valuable”. However, people keep saying there’s no evidence, so I won’t insist anymore.
Thank you for offering this useful information. I have also checked all three translations regarding Eleanor Baker’s invitation and Candy’s decline but nowhere does it make it clear or indisputable that Candy already had that jewelry box. She does mention that she had kept that invitation in her jewelry box but that may simply mean that she included it along with all her other items of the past after being given that gift from her mystery man. The bottom line is that we as readers don’t know since the author doesn’t clarify.
I agree with you, Anita. It’s highly unlikely Candy already had the jewellery box then when she wasn’t even in a relationship with anyone.
She did write she would keep this invitation as something precious, and she did exactly that when she inherited the heirloom later in her life.
In addition, an expensive gift such as that jewelry box may have been given to Candy as an engagement gift. Alternatively, this gift may also bear a symbolic meaning. Let’s not forget that Candy’s good name and reputation had both been tarnished by Eliza when she accused Candy of having stolen valuable items from the Lagan and Ardlay jewelry boxes. Candy almost lost her life en route to Mexico because of those horridly unfair and false accusations against her and she had been stigmatized as a thief for so many years. Such was the impact that this traumatizing experience had on Candy and her dignity that Albert sought to immediately rectify this situation and restore Candy’s honor by forcing the Lagans to publicly announce in front of all the prominent Ardaly family members at the Florida Hotel Resort reception that Candy was wrongfully accused and she had never been a thief. That jewelry box is far more important than some fans believe and the fact that Candy’s lover gives such an expensive jewelry box to her as a gift speaks volumes of who Anohito is.😉
Well said, Anita!! 🤗👏
I also think it’s either an engagement gift or a wedding gift. In fact, if Anohito is Albert the box might have belonged to his late mother. Aunt Elroy might have been keeping it until the young heir gets married. It makes sense a luxurious heirloom is passed to the rightful matriarch.
Candy did not want to receive the gift because she said it didn’t suit her (inferiority complex?).
Yet, Anohito laughed but insisted and let her use it however she wanted. (That’s so Albert… yes I’m biased lol ) If they are not getting married I think Candy would not accept such a valuable present. Just my two cents. 😉
Perhaps Candy felt apprehensive about accepting that luxurious gift due to her being stigmatized of having been called a thief and wrongfully accused of snatching valuables from jewelry boxes during her stay at the Lagans. Such gifts may have triggered negative memories and experiences to Candy as explained in my previous post. I don’t think she felt inferior in any sort of way because she was proud of her upbringing at Pony’s Home and unlike Annie, she was never ashamed of being an orphan or growing up at an orphanage.
I agree with you that this gift as well as the words “Do whatever you want with it (the gift)..” sounds so much like Albert. He had suggested the same to Candy when she had received the diary when studying at St Paul’s. She was encouraged to write whatever came to her mind. Albert had suggested the same during their correspondence as we can see in the Epilogue. Again, he encourages her to be herself and write whatever comes to her mind as if they’re living together at the Magnolia.
Resuming to that jewelry box, it appears that Albert wanted to put an end to all those ugly memories and give Candy a beautiful and elegant jewelry box where she can do whatever she wants with it and quit associating such jewelry boxes with the fear of being called a thief by vipers such as Eliza and Neil. I think this jewelry box functions as a form of closure to the past which comprised beautiful but also traumatic memories to Candy. The fact that the story begins and ends with that jewelry box goes to show how important that gift really is. Perhaps that jewelry box belonged to Rosemary. Have you ever considered this possibility?
Maybe you’re right, Anita. 🤗
In the original text Candy said the luxurious box didn’t suit her or match her style: the negative form of 似合う, which is often used when people commenting people’s appearance or style or taste. For example, “this dress looks great on you” or “this pair sunglasses suits you the most”, etc.
How about the translations? I’m curious. 😉
Yet I completely agree with you about Albert’s respect of Candy’s independence and decisions, and yes, Candy was never ashamed of her origin or childhood. She even thanked her parents for abandoning her at Pony’s Home so that she could meet her prince 💕
You brought up a good point too, that the jewellery box plays a significant role in the story. I’ve never thought of it that way. 👏👍 It’s clear that Candy stored her precious keepsakes in that box, and I’ve always wondered if all the letters in the Epilogue were also kept in that box or not. 🤔 How about that letter from T.G.?
Hi Anita, I forgot about your question whether the jewellery box might have belonged to Rosemary. I won’t rule out the possibility, but since it’s been passed down for generations I suppose one of the ancestors, William XXX Ardlay, purchased the expensive box for his wife. When the heir got married his young wife then inherited it and so on. Does this make sense to you?
There are no discrepancies worthy of note in any of the official translations involving Candy’s reaction to the jewelry box. She feels unworthy of such an extravagant gift in all the official translations of the novel. Anohito’s reaction is also translated in the same way describing him as laughing in response to Candy’s apprehension and encouraging her to do whatever she wants with his gift. Given the fact that Terry is so prescriptive and such a control-freak who never negotiates or discusses matters beforehand with anyone, it appears that it’s Albert who had given that jewelry box to Candy. That said, the exact opposite to Terry when it comes to freedom of expression is Albert. Whenever Terry made a decision or took action, whether it involved him alone or others, he would never bother discussing it. This is what he had done at the school in London when he was a teenager and he resorted to the exact same practices when choosing Susanna and tossing Candy aside when he was a young adult in New York. Candy never had the chance to make any decision since Terry never discussed anything with her but did everything with force and without her consent. On the other hand, Albert is very individualistic and independent but at the same time, he’s also tremendously considerate and respectful to others when it comes to their free will and personal freedom. Albert always provides alternatives and he always gives so much space and freedom of movement both for himself and for others such as Candy. Based on the idiosyncrasy of Anohito, it’s not Terry who fits the picture but Albert. As opposed to all the other Anohitoo-related clues, the jewerly box is the only one which is mentioned so often and placed in such a prominent and crucial position in the novel.
In response to your query about that letter from “T.G.”, I have some thoughts but I want to recheck some aspects from the novel before expressing my viewpoints. I want to recheck the translations as well in case there are any discrepancies.
Brilliant comparison of the two main male characters, Anita! 👍👏
I just have one more thing to add, which some readers have already pointed out — it’s highly unlikely Terry would want to inherit anything from the Duke or his stepmother.
You sure are right about that. Since Nagita has been most specific and telling her readers to focus only on what she has written in her CCFS, then it would be best for all fans to rely on textual evidence and not on mere guessing or wishful thinking. That being said, there is absolutely not a single reference or even minute detail in the CCFS which confirms or slightly suggests that Terry had ever patched things up with his dad. His relationship with him had been messed up since day dot and it culminated with Terry renouncing his dad’s name and aristocratic title. Never does Terry use the Granchester name/title again and never does he have any form of contact with his dad. Ever since Terry left for the USA, he had been relying on his meager salary as a theater actor and this source of income would definitely not enable him to afford a luxurious terrace establishment in the posh countryside during the 1930s. This is all proven 100% in the novel. Period.
Well said!! @Anita, I have nothing more to add. 🤗
To change the subject a bit, I’ve got a couple of questions for you.
Having read the Spanish translation (I had read the Italian and French translations in the past), I’ve noticed that Nagita has removed the detail that Terry was a Broadway actor. The novel just mentions that he’s an actor at a theater troupe called “Stratford” in New York. Have you seen this detail mentioned anywhere in the original 2010 novel? I’ve only seen Terry being portrayed as a Broadway actor in the anime and the manga but not in the novel.
In addition, some fans argue that Albert is of Scottish heritage and the Ardlays were farmers in Northern Scotland (some say the Highlands) before becoming immigrants in the United States and accumulating such massive wealth and power. However, there is no such information provided in the novel. Have you got any idea where that information came from? Is it from the old novel by any chance because there is no mention of any of this in the anime or the manga?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Anita, these are good questions. I’ll check the novel and may answer in a new post. Would you mind?
I don’t mind at all. Just to help you out a bit, I’ve looked into all the three translations of the novel and I can confirm that the word “Broadway” isn’t used anywhere. Terry is reportedly an actor at a company called “Stratford” run by Robert Hathaway (who is also the director of “Hamlet”) in New York. There isn’t any mention of Albert being Scottish or the Ardlays having been farmers in Northern Scotland either. At some point while driving to Lakewood, Albert sings a traditional Scottish songs which excites Candy as she is enthralled by his singing voice. You’ll find this moment in the Epilogue where Candy is describing her trip with Albert to Lakewood. The two of them never discuss about any family links to Scotland, however. All we know is that the Ardlays have got property in England and Scotland and that Albert had established successful start-up businesses in the South of England and London during Candy’s studies at St Paul’s institute.
If you’ve got any other information, please let me know.
Thanks again.
I have all the official translations too and I’ve got them saved in pdf for ease of access. I did a quick search for the words -Broadway- and -Scottish farmers- but they are nowhere to be found in any of the official translations of the novel. I tried changing the wording a bit by using -Scottish ancestors- or -coming from Scotland- but nothing came up. The Broadway reference was only used in the anime. I’m not sure about the manga. As for the Scottish farmer ancestry, that’s probably just fan-fiction.
Thanks @Lynn. That’s what I thought too after reading the novel. Perhaps those references to Broadway and Scottish farmer ancestry could be found in the older versions of the novel but I don’t know Japanese to be able to confirm that. If I’m not mistaken, the older versions of the novel haven’t been translated in any other language and they’re not available for purchase as they’re out of print.
You may be right about that, Anita. That info could be included in the old novel but like you, I can’t verify that either because all I know about the old novel is the material I’ve gathered online from various online fanpages and blogs. It doesn’t really matter anyway because Keiko Nagita had already suggested that readers don’t need to have accumulated all that information and readers should simply rely on what is stated in her new novel. Plain and simple. Taking that into consideration, there is absolutely no mention of Terry being a Broadway actor or Albert’s family coming from Scottish farmers anywhere in the new novel as published in 2010. Instead, Terry is an actor who works for a troupe in New York and Albert’s family comes from an affluent and powerful lineage which places tradition and hierarchy in very high esteem.
Hi @Anita and @Lynn,
I don’t have the old novel either but I finally found the reference about the Ardlays’ origin in the Old CC novel spoilers in English. Albert in his letter to Candy wrote that his ancestor was some bumpkin from Scotland but they had become terribly serious about family lineage over time. Something like that. I might double check Fay’s document later too.
About Terry working for Stratford, the word 劇団 can mean either a theatre company or a troupe. Since Stratford group did travel to Chicago for a performance, you might be right that it was a troupe. Yet they might also be mainly based in New York and performed in a theatre in New York (for example the premiere of Romeo and Juliet). For sure both Terry and Susanna were stage actors who performed for live audience.
Thanks for the input, Ms Puddle. I had a hunch that the old novel may have included that information. Yet, it’s not in the new novel and that’s what matters, according to the author herself. Therefore, Keiko Nagita has removed the detail that Terry was a Broadway actor and she has also removed the detail that Albert’s family came from Scottish farmers. In the new novel, Albert tells Candy via their correspondence that his family holds lineage and tradition in the highest of standards but there’s no other information surrounding any Scottish ancestry or link to farmers in Northern Scotland. In the new novel, Albert also explains to Candy that his family emphasizes the importance of higher learning and academic education, hence, his encouragement to study intensively for university in the UK.
Hi Anita, I only found Ardlay’s origin in the old novel, not Terry being a Broadway actor. Maybe it has always been an assumption because he was apparently a stage actor performing in a grand theatre in New York?
Also, Nagita sensei might have decided to remove the detail about the Ardlays being some bumpkin in Scotland originally. I still think they are Scottish in CCFS because when Albert first met little Candy, he explained to her that he was wearing the Scottish native (national) costume. Years later, when he wrote about his runaway incident in his letter to her, he simply said “I put on the native (national) costume.”
OK. That explains everything.Thanks, Ms Puddle, for clarifying about the old novel.👍
You’re welcome, Lynn 🤗
Not that I want to be pedantic (I probably am but anyway..) but a native costume doesn’t mean that it’s his country of origin or ethnicity. Many British aristocrats, including the British royals, tend to adorn themselves with traditional Scottish attire during various Scottish events-the Highland Games season, in particular. Prince William and Harry as well as their father and grandfather frequently wear the Scottish kilt during certain ceremonies and they’re English-not Scottish. Apparently, they’ve got Scottish historical ties via James VI of Scotland who became James I of England, Scotland and Wales after the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. Under this logic, every British aristocrat (including Terry’s father) has some form of Scottish link, one way or another, but that doesn’t mean they’re directly linked to Scotland.
I’ll end my historical and genealogical analysis here and just accept that the author wants to remain obscure in this aspect too as she has remained vague and unclear in so many other instances in this novel.
What is perfectly clear in the CCFS, nonetheless, is that Terry is not a Broadway actor of any sort and Albert’s family is never linked to Scottish farmers. Instead, Terry works for a theater group in New York and Albert is the ultimate heir to a wealthy and powerful family based in Chicago.
I know what you mean, @Anita, and in addition to your examples, I have heard many Englishmen like wearing kilts at important occasions too.
Yet in Chinese and Japanese it’s a common practice to omit some words when the implications are well understood. I’m not sure about the translations though.
The Ardlays were seemingly Scottish, like all the youngsters wearing kilts at family gatherings and playing bagpipes. As far as I know, bagpipes are difficult to learn, and Albert was proud to have mastered it.
Yet, I actually agree with your conclusions, and there’s a reason why Nagita sensei had intentionally removed the detail about the Ardlays’ ancestors. Perhaps she wanted to make the Ardlays even more mysterious or prestigious. 🤔 Maybe this makes the damascened jewellery box equally likely to have descended from the two family lines?
Just to make myself clear, I’m not saying that Albert’s family is or is not of Scottish origin. I’m simply putting further theories and alternative interpretations on the CCFS “brainstorming table” since everyone from all sides of the CC fandom are doing that anyway. This novel is so vague that readers can practically claim whatever they want. Besides, Nagita herself has encouraged her readers to use their imagination after admitting that her novel had been lazily written and left an imperfect ending open to a variety of interpretations based on each and every reader’s personal biases and severely subjective beliefs.
As for those references in the CCFS concerning the Ardlays and the Lagans owning handcrafted and luxurious jewelry boxes from Damascus, the author provides some snippets of information that the Ardalys traveled to the Middle East for business purposes quite often. That may explain the array of various exotic and extravagant items they had in their possession and in their estates.
Hi @Anita, thanks for sharing more information. You’re absolutely right about the author asking her readers to use our imagination 😉
Pleased to be of your assistance. I’m just trying to be as objective as possible by focusing on what’s in the text rather than my own opinion.
Thanks Anita for your patience! I spent some time re-reading parts of the CCFS and finally found it. Candy wanted to try summer school in Scotland because that was the origin of Ardlay’s ancestors. Both Anthony and Prince on the Hill were connected to Scotland too. (Reference: Volume 2 chapter 12)
I also checked my manga copy. When Terry suddenly sobered up in that roadside theatre, he remembered his days performing in Broadway in New York (literally Broadway stage) — the exact manga scene I brought up in this post. Thus, it’s mentioned in the manga at least.
Thank you very much, Ms Puddle. Following your suggestions and references, I quickly read those specific sections and you’re absolutely right about Albert’s Scottish origins. Given the luxurious establishments the Ardlays have in Scotland and England, they definitely do not come from a financially humble background. Nagita probably wanted to omit the “bumpkin” and keep the “Scottish ancestry” reference. She also adds the word “clan” when it comes to the Ardlays and the Lagans so they most certainly do not derive from indigent backgrounds.
As for the Broadway reference, it definitely doesn’t exist in the new novel. Instead, Terry is working for a theater troupe in New York and he seems to be struggling financially because he could only compromise the train tickets for Candy when she had decided to visit him in New York. In the anime and manga, Terry appears to be a rich and famous Broadway actor where he even has to wear a disguise to conceal his identity from his fans. He’s so well off that he had even arranged one of the nest hotels for Candy to stay in during her visit. However, in the novel, he’s a humble theater actor who lives on peanuts. Even nowadays, most theater actors struggle to make ends meet and they’re constantly broke and in debt, including the well-established ones.
Thank you @Anita! I agree, and it’s fun to reread the novel like a detective looking for clues 😁
It’s a bit like forensics, isn’t it? But in this case, it leads to nowhere.🤔
At least in a quality crime&mystery novel, you get to find out who the culprit is in the end.💡
Imagine if Agatha Christie, Edward Stratemeyer or Raymond Chandler decided to pull that same stunt Keiko Nagita did and leave the name of the mystery person to the “imagination of the reader”..🤦
Yes @Anita it was like forensics lol. Yet, to me the identity of the mystery person can’t be more obvious 😉
Apparently, Keiko Nagita wanted to write a novel depicting a more realistic image of a theater actor who is still in his embryonic stage in his career. The anime and manga both portrayed Terry as a rapidly established Broadway actor but that’s ludicrous because it’s virtually impossible for a high-school drop-out who’s around 20 years of age (or a bit more) to become so famous out of nowhere, especially not in such a culturally elite and artistically enriched environment as Broadway which is difficult even for weathered actors to get a role in one of its productions. The anime and manga also show Terry driving a car and living a comfortable life but in the novel he’s never described as having a car and his financial status is way below par.
In response to your comments about Scottish farmers, owning land in Scotland was considered to be prestigious and those who owned land-whether farmers or of any other profession-were held in the highest esteem from medieval until the early modern era. The situation began to change after the infamous Highland Clearances (c.1750-c.1860) and perhaps the Ardlays had been affected by this debacle, hence, their decision to immigrate to the United States. This is only a tentative theory regarding the Ardlays but it’s worth considering as an alternative interpretation.
I would suggest reading Professor Cynthia J. Neville’s scholarly book called “Land, Law and People in Medieval Scotland” (Edinburgh, 2010); and Professor T.M. Devine “The Scottish Clearances: A History of the Dispossessed, 1600–1900” (London, 2018). Both are superb books by distinguished academics in Scottish history.
Thank you @Sarah for sharing! I’ll also quote this comment. 👍👍
Awesome! Just give me a heads up if you want more source material. I only mentioned a few because I didn’t want to bombard your page with too much data.
Thanks again, @Sarah! 🤗
Hi Ms Puddle,
It’s such a shame that so much fighting was going on between Nagita and Igarashi. This lasted for a very long time leading to bitter court battles. If those two ladies had put their egos aside, they would have managed to create a fascinating story through their collaboration. Igarashi is a brilliant illustrator and very few artists bear her talent. As for Nagita, her imagination sure is wild but her writing style is average-not too bad but nothing memorable either. She does hold all the legal rights to her story and the law was right for clamping down on Igarashi. Her greed against Nagita was appalling to say the least.
Thank you so much for keeping us informed about this story and I hope you also stay safe from this global pandemic.
Hi Michelle! Nice to hear from you!
I agree it’s really a shame that these two talented ladies could not get along. Many people said Candy Candy story is good but it might not have achieved international fame without Igarashi’s character designs and beautiful illustrations, which I agree. Sigh…
I agree with those viewpoints too. If it had been the other way around and the novel had first been circulated instead of the manga or anime, Candy Candy wouldn’t have had even a fraction of the appeal and popularity of the visual representations of Candy Candy-manga and anime.
Hello Ms Puddle and Michelle,
I’ll chime in a bit about Nagita’s novel that many fans are disappointed with it because they were expecting to read the continuation of Candy’s life and not bits and pieces scattered about with most significant scenes being reduced to mere summaries.
The epistolary technique could prove to be effective if used adeptly which sadly isn’t the case with Nagita’s book.
Apart from “Daddy Long Legs” (Webster, 1912), there is a plethora of superb epistolary novel material worth reading such as “Givi Shaduri” (Javakhishvili, 1928), “Screwtape Letters” (C.S. Lewis, 1942), “The Key” (Tanizaki, 1956), “The Color Purple” (Walker, 1982), “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (Chbosky, 1999), “A Tale for the Time Being” (Ozeki, 2013), “The Incarnations” (Barker, 2015), and “Sleeping Giants” (Sylvain Nèuvel, 2016).
Personally, I enjoy reading epistolary novels a lot but I agree with the criticism that Nagita hasn’t used this technique effectively. Epistolary novels are purported to enhance character development and establish a more direct and intimate connection with the main characters of the story. Apart from the letters between Candy and Albert in the Epilogue, the rest of Nagita’s epistolary sections don’t really work because it’s just Candy writing to various people without getting any reply in the majority of cases.
The epistolary technique used for Candy and Albert works well, however, because the two of them have a back-and-forth in tandem with insight into their secrets and inner feelings.
In my opinion, Nagita should have maintained the narrative form in the third section of her novel as she had done with the first and second sections. The epistolary form in the Epilogue works well but she could have elaborated a bit more.
It’s ironic that a novel turns out to be more shallow and superficial than a visual art form such as the manga and anime. It’s usually the opposite which happens.
Thank you Christine for sharing with us some great epistolary novels, and I’ve only read some of those. I agree that Nagita sensei wasn’t a pro but as you said, the Epilogue in CCFS is not bad at all. Yes, the rest of CCFS section 3 leaves much to be desired and yet, having no replies is not the only reason, IMHO. For example, we readers don’t get to read the replies in “Daddy-long-legs” and its sequel “Dear Enemy” either.
That being said, I also wish Nagita sensei had kept the same narrative style in section 3 in CCFS too. 😉
I was actually surprised and in a negative way when the author admitted that her final story about Candy had been lazily written. While someone could give her credit for being honest, I can’t help but be a bit gutted that she hadn’t put any decent effort in being more productive and creative for a story which means so much to many people all over the globe. We’re talking about a book which costs around 30$ exclusive of shipping costs and other additional expenses. The other translations are even more expensive because they’re 2 books instead of one. Honestly, I can understand the frustration of many fans who had expected higher quality in writing and a proper narrative structure. Unfortunately, they got short-changed in all those aspects.
I’ll have to agree with you on that one @Christine. Nagita had the ultimate opportunity to prove her worth as a writer independent of Igarashi’s influence but her lazy writing proved the exact opposite. The novel is next to nothing without those extraordinary visuals. @Ms Puddle is spot on by saying that Igarashi’s illustrations are an all-time-classic even up to this day. Irrespective of her questionable morals, Igarashi is one hell of an amazing artist. She’s one of a kind.
Hi @Christine and @Michelle, to be fair it seems Nagita sensei did put some effort into improving the final story when compared to the old novel. It’s just that it’s not as good as the fans had expected.
That being said, I can’t help but wish the author could work with Igarashi again so that she could illustrate parts of the CCFS for Nagita, like the various scenes in the epilogue or some episodes in section 3 such as Archie and Annie’s engagement party or Stear’s memorial, etc.
I don’t about that.. I’m not convinced that Nagita really put any meaningful effort. She even admitted it herself that her work was far from perfect. She was even embarrassed that the Italian translation was so expensive. She explained that her only effort was to reduce the number of words but she already had to face that challenge back in the 70s when she first wrote that novel.
I agree that the CCFS is an improved version of the older novel albeit slightly. Nagita seems to have tossed some bits and pieces without making any significant change or development to the already existing story as found in the older novel.
Agreed. The new novel has too many loopholes and Nagita should have been able to emend the problematic aspects of her novel. She keeps on saying that editors and publishers prevented her from doing what she wanted but that sounds like a load of BS to me. No matter how profit-oriented a publisher may be, the author still musters the authority to defend his or her novel and call the shots.
Hi Michelle, I am not defending the author but I have a feeling that if she had not decided to hide Candy’s husband’s identity she could have written with more freedom or closed some loopholes.
Hi Ms Puddle,
My intention is neither to defend nor oppose the author but to provide clear-cut and objective feedback regarding her latest novel which is problematic and defective to the core.
If the author had, for instance, provided a story where Candy and Terry get back together (without necessarily having to kill off Susanna) in tandem with a decent character development and a parallel narrative surrounding Albert’s life with a woman he has fallen in love with as he’s a central character to the story too, then the novel would have had some form of decent substance and meaning along with congruence.
In turn, the novel would have had just as much quality and substance if the author had provided a story where Candy and Albert become a couple along with a parallel narrative surrounding Terry’s life with another woman, presumably a colleague of his, without having to kill off Susanna. It’s pathetic that some fans depend on Susanna’s death to establish their happiness. Even vultures, crows, rats and other scavengers don’t stoop so low.
Unfortunately, this novel is just some vague mosaic of previous versions of the novel sloppily grafted into a new novel which really isn’t that “new” apart from a few added paragraphs “transporting” the readers to the 1930s with some equally vague hints about “anohito”, who could easily be Terry or Albert or anybody else.
The biggest loser in this new novel is Terry, irrespective of the “anohito” controversy. His character is completely amputated in this so-called “new” novel. He’s been reduced to a hysterical and woman-beating man-child who hates his mommy for not loving him. At least the anime creators did their utmost to elevate Terry’s character by removing almost all those violent aspect of his character. They got rid of that dreadful May Fest scene and enhanced Terry’s character to a more sophisticated and gentle one-much akin to Albert’s character in the manga and novel. This, of-course, came at the expense of Albert’s character in the anime where he was converted into an ethereal “angelic-like” superhuman. He was elevated to “superman” status but he was devoid of anything human or sexual like Terry. He was more of an ideal than a human-being.
I do find it very peculiar that Nagita made no effort to elevate Terry’s character if she wanted him to be an “anohito” candidate. She could have removed those scenes where Terry hits women but she doesn’t. Perhaps she wanted to convey a message with her refusal to elevate his character and even more so by not providing any further development or insight into his character after he left the UK to pursue a career in acting in the US.
On the contrary, Nagita elevates Albert’s character to even higher standards in the “new” novel by adding further insight and character development. The Epilogue does a lot of justice to Albert and it reveals how much Nagita adores and respect men like him.
Hi @Michelle, may I quote your comment in a new post?
-adores and respects-
Well said! When I read the novel when it first came out in Italian, I was expecting a resolution and a specific ending whether that was with a Candy-Terry or Candy-Albert union. Instead, this novel ends abruptly and in a very thick veil of mystery. It’s not just a matter of “who-is-anohito” but there is a complete absence of of awareness regarding the whereabouts and future of the main characters. Even when it comes to Candy, Nagita never makes it clear whether she’s married, has kids, is working or unemployed. She tosses in an area called Avon but that could be anywhere worldwide. Canada, for example, also has a place called Avon and many US citizens used to travel by ship to the east or west coasts of Canada. Nagita keeps on saying that we should use our imagination but her story requires far more than that; it requires the readers pick up a pen and write entire chunks to help this story make any sense. If that’s the case I’m sure many readers would be happy to oblige but they would be even happier if they got their money back for this overpriced book.😉
Hi @Christine, may I quote your comment in a new post?
Thanks. My point exactly.
Sure! I’d be glad to contribute.😊
By all means, you can quote me anytime you want, Ms Puddle. Thank you for asking. 🙏That is so considerate of you.
Thank you @Michelle 🤗