The texts to the Nancy Drew® books come in two versions--original and revised. The first 34 volumes were in original text format--that being 25 chapters and 200 plus pages. Original texts too, included prejudices and stereotyping of the times. Beginning in 1959, the texts were revised over a period of time up until 1977. The revisions have a format of 20 chapters and around 180 pages. The revisions shortened the books and left out a lot of the prejudices and stereotypes from the original text volumes. They also quickened the pace of the texts. The originals really develop the story, the scenes, and the characters in much more detail than do the revised texts. Consequently, most collectors who grew up with the originals would not have the revised texts for anything! Those who grew up reading the revised texts, and probably not realizing they were revised, are enjoying the originals as well. For an analysis of the originals and the revisions, visit the Nancy Drew® Revealed section for the article, Revising an Original.

Volume #'s 35-56 were issued with only one text--of 20 chapters and 180 or so pages. These were never revised--they were written at the same time as the other volumes were being revised, so there was no need for a revision.

In her Girl Sleuth on the Couch, Betsy Caprio notes that there were 8 volumes that were revised and all new stories were written. For example, in volume #4, The Mystery at Lilac Inn, in the original, the inn itself was only the scene of a purse theft. In the revised, it was the scene for the mystery--many activities revolved around the inn. Some of the characters were changed as well. These were volume #'s 2, 4-5, 11-12, 14, 17-18.

There were 6 with minor title changes--volume #'s 5, 10, 17-18, 23, and 29. These minor changed include dropping a 'the' or changing an 'at' to an 'of'. In my reading and re-reading of the original v. revised texts, I have noted that although those 8 previously mentioned volumes were revised with virtually all new stories, all of the other revisions had some added or subtracted plot elements and scenes as well. In the library section, under the first 34 volumes, as they become available, I will note the similarites and changes within the text section and discussion sections of those pages.

The following table notes which years that the original texts of volume #'s 1-34 were revised. Also an '*' by a volume number means that is a text that when revised was substantially changed with an all new story. A '+' sign next to a volume number indicates that when it was revised there was a minor title change.

Volumes:	Revision Date:
1	1959
2*	1959
3	1960
4*	1961
5* +	1965
6	1961
7	1962
8	1968
9	1968
10 +	1966
11*	1965
12*	1972
13	1974
14*	1970
15	1972
16	1969
17* +	1976
18* +	1971
19	1969
20	1972
21	1970
22	1973
23 +	1973
24	1977
25	1967
26	1967
27	1967
28	1968
29 +	1968
30	1969
31	1974
32	1974
33	1975
34	1975

The following table notes the authors for each text, 'O' being for original text and 'R' being for revised text. Note: On revisions, I have included who wrote the adaptation, Harriet Adams revised for the most part and or edited most of the revisions, with help from other various individuals on certain volumes. If you are interested in learning more about Mildred A. Wirt Benson, who ghosted 23 of the original text Nancy Drew® books, visit the Mildred A. Wirt Benson Website. List in part compiled from Farah's Guide, 11th edition, as to revision authors.

Volumes:	Authors:
1	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
2	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
3	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
4	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
5	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Grace Grote
6	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
7	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
8	O: Walter Karig R:Harriet Adams
9	O: Walter Karig R:Patricia Doll
10	O: Walter Karig R:Patricia Doll
11	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
12	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Grace Grote
13	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
14	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
15	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
16	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
17	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
18	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Harriet Adams
19	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
20	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
21	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
22	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
23	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
24	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
25	O:Mildred A. Wirt R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
26	O:George Waller, Jr.(Harriet Adams) R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
27	O:Margaret Scherf R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
28	O:Wilhelmina Rankin R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
29	O:Alma Sasse R:Ann Shultes
30	O:Mildred A. Wirt Benson R:Pricilla Baker-Carr
31	O:Harriet Adams R:June Dunn
32	O:Charles Strong R:Ann Shultes
33	O:Harriet Adams R:Ann Shultes
34	O:Harriet Adams R:Mary Fisher
35	Harriet Adams
36	Harriet Adams
37	Harriet Adams
38	Harriet Adams
39	Harriet Adams
40	Harriet Adams
41	Harriet Adams
42	Harriet Adams
43	Harriet Adams
44	Harriet Adams
45	Harriet Adams
46	Harriet Adams
47	Harriet Adams
48	Harriet Adams
49	Harriet Adams
50	Harriet Adams
51	Harriet Adams
52	Harriet Adams
53	Harriet Adams
54	Harriet Adams
55	Harriet Adams
56	Harriet Adams

Copyright © 2001-2010 by Jennifer Fisher. All Rights Reserved. Nancy Drew® and the Hardy Boys® are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. This site is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by Simon & Schuster, Inc. Any of Simon & Schuster's Copyright material appearing on this site complies with fair or acceptable use principles established in U.S. and International coypright law for the purpose of review, study, criticism, or news reporting.