London United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_Publisher of the famed British children’s author Roald Dahl’s books was at the receiving end of some criticism recently when Puffin decided to change the script to being politically correct – altering references related to weight, mental health, gender and race referred to in the books. The backlash to the changes were so strong that Puffin backtracked and announced it would publish the Roald Dahl classics in its original format.
Seventeen of Dahl’s books went through cuts and rewrites including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda. The scores of changes didn’t sit well with both readers young and old and bowing to pressure, the publisher stated it would publish The Roald Dahl Classic Collection in its original form as well, allowing readers to choose the version they prefer.
The Roald Dahl Story Company which holds the copyrights to the books defended the move to modernize the versions saying it wanted to ensure that Dahl’s wonderful stories and much loved characters will continue to be enjoyed by today’s children.
The changes included Augustus Gloop, Charlie’s gluttonous adversary being called ‘enormous’ rather than ‘enormously fat’ as was penned in the originally published book 1964. The ‘old hag’ in Witches became an ‘old crow’ and the supernatural woman who posed as an ordinary woman was labeled ‘a top scientist or running a business’ rather than ‘ a cashier in a supermarket or typing letters for a businessman’. Even Fantastic Mr Fox was not left untouched. The word ‘black’ was expunged as an adjective when describing the murderous brutal looking tractors.
Tweaking and rewriting books to adhere to modern sensibilities is not new but the scale of edits is what drew criticism from writers’ organization PEN America and even award winning author Salman Rushdie, who called it absurd censorship. Even the Queen Consort Camilla got in on the action urging writers to remain true to their calling and not be inhibited by those who curb freedom of expression, imposing limits on imagination.
Dahl who died in 1990 sold more than 300 million copies of his compendium of books which revolve on mischievous children, beastly adults and strange beasts. The books continue to fascinate and fuel the imagination of children around the world. Dah’s books have made it Broadway and the silver screen and in 2021, the rights of his books were sold to Netflix which aim to produce NewGen films based on the stories.
