Following the success of The Real Barenziah‘s publication in 3E417, an Altmeri edition was soon released in the Summerset Isles, then a province of the Empire. The Altmeri Edition, titled Hecurta Barenziah (literal translation: “True Barenziah”), proved an instant hit. The Auridon Press’s first prints sold out within a week, as even the most proper Altmeri kinladies surreptitiously acquired copies of the unauthorised biography of Barenziah.

For several weeks, it was common to see Altmer immersed in a certain book, frequently covered in cloth. Though proper ladies and gentlemer took care to hide their books’ covers, all knew they were reading The Real Barenziah. The book was especially popular in the Altmeri City of Firsthold on Auridon, whose High Kinlord Reman had recently married Barenziah’s daughter: Morgiah. The Auridon Press printed three runs of The Real Barenziah’s Altmeri Edition.

There was, however, one political group strongly opposed to the book: The Thalmor. Though Altmer initially ignored the Thalmor’s censure of the book, the Thalmor began to organise book burnings in the early fourth era. Their efforts to suppress the “immoral influence” of the book culminated in a total ban of the book in 4E22, after they took power. The Thalmor banned The Real Barenziah “For lewdness, promotion of promiscuous behaviours, and glorification of interracial breeding.” The Real Barenziah’s Altmeri translator was soon executed for “unlawful associations with the human Imperial regime.” Since then, all residents and visitors of Alinor discovered in possession of a copy of The Real Barenziah are subject to prosecution by the Thalmor. Only a few copies of the Altmeri Edition are thought to remain. They supposedly fetch a high price in the Summerset Shadow Market. Though rumours exist that the Thalmor themselves keep a copy in their private library: “for research.”

[Altmeri Reference]