In 1959, Grosset & Dunlap began publishing a new The Secret of the Old Clock and The Hidden Staircase, Shorter in length, they and all subsequent "updated" titles bore the inscription on their copyright page, "This new book for today's readers is based on the original of the same title." Wirt's earliest writing of the Syndicate-owned titles was being phased out. On the average of two volumes per year, all original Drew titles by her have been rewritten to remove what the Syndicate called "objectionable material." The character of Nancy Drew also underwent a dramatic change: the strong-willed teen was having her personality diluted, causing her to lose her characteristic independence.