cbostrum (04/07/83)
To answer the query about the two verions of floating opera, the only major change i recall is that the original gory ending (which the publishers disliked was restored). This involves Todd planning to blow up the showboat with everyone on it, and includes an explicit description of the little girls (Janie's) "black, charred body". In the first published version Barth was forced to substitute a more innocuous suicide attempt.