Gloriana- Changed ending/Controversy

[manmiles]

I had a real good post here...but it didn't post.

Okay, I finished reading Gloriana this morning. It's an early publication which has the rape scene. I also read a library version which had the 'Alternate Ending.' Was the original ending the source of much controversy as justifying rape? Was it your own idea to write a new ending or something imposed on you?

I do believe that the new ending is much better as in my opinion it symbolises Gloriana's growth into independence and having to run the country without the help of any of her advisors. The rape scene in the original is rather cheap and nasty and seems like a quick ending to the miniature arc of Gloriana's inability to reach orgasm which didn't seem to have much to do with the narrative. This is all my opinion and may not be correct to the true intent of the narrative.

[Michael Moorcock]

People seem very divided on this. It was my own idea to change it. I didn't want the book to appear to justify rape, under any circumstances.
With the current (Warner) edition, I had the chance to include both endings, so the reader's well aware I'm not justifying rape but can make their own choice of preferred ending. Glad you liked the rewrite.