[LM_NET] Hit: Retold citation

[Vicki Nelson <nelsonvl@ECTOR-COUNTY.K12.TX.US>]

I was asked to post MLA's response to me on  how to cite a retold book. It makes 
sense to me to do it this way.  Hope it helps.

Vicki Nelson
OHS Librarian
Odessa, Texas
nelsonvl@ector-county.k12.tx.us 

Dear Ms. Nelson:

The answer would depend on what is meant by "retold."  If retelling means
that the second author rewrote the  book entirely in his or her own words,
the entry in the works-cited list would probably not mention the first
author (because the second author is, in a bibliographic sense, the author
of the book and the first author's work is merely a source for that book).
But the student may want to mention the first author in the body of the
text, so that the nature of the source is clear.

For example, suppose that Jack Johnson, a soldier in the Civil War,
published a memoir of his experience in the war.  Then Mary Morrison, a
novelist, retold his memoir in the form of a novel.  The entry in the
works-cited list might look like this (I've used the underline symbol here
to indicate the start and end of underlining):

     Morrison, Mary. _Title of Novel_. New York: Publisher, 1995.

In the text of the paper, the student might want to say something like
this:

     According to Mary Morrison's fictional retelling of the memoirs
     of Jack Johnson, a soldier in the Civil War, "[quotation]" (57-58).

Please let me know if this reply doesn't answer your question.

Sincerely yours,

Eric Wirth
Assistant Editor
Modern Language Association

Vicki Nelson
Librarian
Odessa High School
Ector County ISD

Vicki Nelson
Librarian
Odessa High School
Ector County ISD

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------