OT maybe: Looking for a tool or . . .?

[Patton Echols]

I'm a newbie to linux (Ubuntu my first functioning install, tried a 
redhat install years ago and lost patience before it would function).

I have a project where I want to do some text editing, but not 
manually.  The document is in HTML and has text in normal font, bold and 
italics, mixed in each paragraph and often in each sentence.  (Basically 
a "redline" version of a lengthy document) What I need to be able to do 
is strip out the text in bold, remove the italic formatting, but leave 
that text.  I could do it manually, but where's the fun in that?

My question:  I'm sure that there is either a linux tool, or text editor 
with scripting ability that can do what I want.  And I'd love to RTFM, 
but I have no idea where to look.  Anyone have any pointers / ideas?  If 
not, a better forum to ask?


Thanks