Roald Dahl revision controversy

Puffin Books, the children's imprint of the British publisher Penguin Books, expurgated various works by British author Roald Dahl in 2023, sparking controversy.

Works by Roald Dahl (pictured in 1988) were expurgated in 2023.

Dahl has received criticism for anti-Semitic comments and his use of racial and sexual stereotypes. Reviewing Australian author Tony Clifton's God Cried, a picture book about the siege of West Beirut during the 1982 Lebanon War, Dahl used several antisemitic tropes, including claiming that the United States was "dominated by Jewish financial institutions". Following Dahl's death in 1990, multiple works of his were examined further, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, and Dahl's short story collection Switch Bitch. Dahl's comments received renewed attention in the years leading up to the controversy, with his family issuing an apology for his comments in 2020.

During his lifetime Dahl had enjoined his publishers not to "so much as change a single comma in one of my books",[1] but on 19 February 2023 Puffin Books announced it had hired sensitivity readers over the span of three years to assess Dahl's works, rereleasing his work with multiple changes regarding Dahl's depiction of race, sex, and character. A report from British newspaper The Telegraph determined that Puffin Books altered hundreds of passages in Dahl's work, including in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. Facing backlash from readers and authors, on 23 February Puffin Books announced that Dahl's original publications would be released alongside the expurgated versions as the "The Roald Dahl Classic Collection", but did not retract the revisions.

Various authors, politicians, and organisations have provided commentary on the controversy. In the following month is was announced that the works of Enid Blyton (author of The Famous Five) and Ian Fleming (author of James Bond) would be expurgated as well, and it was revealed that R. L. Stine's Goosebumps had already been expurgated, without the author's knowledge or consent.

Background

"They killed 22,000 civilians when they bombed Beirut. It was very much hushed up in the newspapers because they are primarily Jewish-owned. I'm certainly anti-Israeli and I've become antisemitic in as much as that you get a Jewish person in another country like England strongly supporting Zionism. I think they should see both sides. It's the same old thing: we all know about Jews and the rest of it. There aren't any non-Jewish publishers anywhere, they control the media—jolly clever thing to do—that's why the president of the United States has to sell all this stuff to Israel."

– Roald Dahl in an interview with The Independent[2]

Roald Dahl was a British author of children's literature. Dahl's works are published by Puffin Books, the children's imprint of the British publisher Penguin Books, while the rights to his works are managed by the Roald Dahl Story Company.[3] In September 2021, streaming service Netflix acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company.[4]

Dahl's comments and writing have received criticism. In the August 1983 issue of the Literary Review, a review by Dahl of Tony Clifton's God Cried appears, in which he writes that the United States is "so utterly dominated by the great Jewish financial institutions" and asks, "must Israel, like Germany, be brought to her knees before she learns how to behave in this world?"[2] In a 1990 interview with The Independent, Dahl said that he'd become antisemitic, "in as much as that you get a Jewish person in another country like England strongly supporting Zionism".[5]

Characters in Dahl's works have been criticised for perceived racist and sexist stereotypes. In 1972, children's book author Eleanor Cameron compared the Oompa-Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to African slaves in an article for The Horn Book Magazine.[6] These statements were echoed further following Dahl's death in 1990, with book critic Michael Dirda accusing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Witches of racism and misogyny, respectively, in an article for The Washington Post.[7] In the Jewish-American and feminist publication Lilith, Michele Landsberg argued that "evil, domineering, smelly, fat, ugly women are [Dahl's] favorite villains".[8] Dahl's short story collection Switch Bitch was criticised for its crude and disturbing themes.[9] In 1973, Dahl rewrote Oompa-Loompas, making them white in skin colour.[10] In 2020, Dahl's family apologised for his antisemitic comments.[11]

Revisions

Censorship

On 19 February 2023, Puffin Books announced that it would be altering the language used in many of Dahl's books to expurgate what they deemed derogatory words and passages. The process took approximately three years, and was conducted in association with Inclusive Minds, a collective that promotes accessibility and inclusivity.[12] A report from British newspaper The Telegraph found hundreds of removed or altered words and passages.[13]

Some changes focused on race and ethnicity. Numerous changes were made to the use of colour descriptions, whether in reference to skin colour or otherwise:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
The flashing black eyes were fixed on Sophie's bed. The next moment, a huge hand with pale fingers came snaking in through the window. The flashing eyes were fixed on Sophie's bed. The next moment, a huge hand came sneaking in through the window.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Immediately, an Oompa-Loompa appeared, as if from nowhere, and stood beside him.

The Oompa-Loompa bowed and smiled, showing beautiful white teeth. His skin was rosy-white, his hair was golden brown, and the top of his head came just above the height of Mr Wonka's knee. He wore the usual deerskin slung over his shoulder.

'Now listen to me,' said Mr Wonka.

 An Oompa-Loompa appeared, as if from nowhere, and stood beside him.

'Now listen to me,' said Mr Wonka.

Esio Trot
'You never know,' Mr Hoppy said darkly. 'You never know.' 'You never know,' Mr Hoppy said mysteriously. 'You never know.'
Fantastic Mr Fox
Soon, two enormous caterpillar tractors with mechanical shovels on their front ends came clanking into the wood. Bean was driving one. Bunce the other. The machines were both black. They were murderous, brutal-looking monsters. Soon, two enormous caterpillar tractors with mechanical shovels on their front ends came clanking into the wood. Bean was driving one. Bunce the other. They were murderous, brutal-looking monsters.
George's Marvellous Medicine
She had pale brown teeth and a small puckered-up mouth like a dog's bottom. She had rotting teeth and a small puckered-up mouth like a dog's bottom.
James and the Giant Peach
James stopped and stared at the speakers, his face white with horror. James stopped and stared at the speakers, his face agog with horror.
Matilda
'What are you looking so red in the face about, Harry?' 'What are you looking so hot under the collar about, Harry?'

References to other countries, regions, and ethnicities were sometimes removed or significantly altered:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
'It is all depending, you see, on how big the human beans is. Japanese beans is very small, so a giant will need to gobble up about six Japanese beans before he is feeling full up. Others like the Norway people and the Yankee-Doodles is ever so much bigger and usually two or three of those makes a good tuck-in.' 'It is all depending, you see, on how big the human beans is.'
Esio Trot
Tortoises used to be brought into England by the thousand, packed in crates, and they came mostly from North Africa. But not many years ago a law was passed that made it illegal to bring any tortoises into the country. Tortoises used to be brought into England by the thousand. They came from lots of different countries, packed in crates. But many years ago a law was passed that made it illegal to bring any tortoises into the UK.
James and the Giant Peach
'I'd rather be fried alive and eaten by a Mexican!' wailed the Old-Green-Grasshopper. 'I'd rather be fried alive and eaten!' wailed the Old-Green-Grasshopper.
The Witches
'But what about the rest of the world?' I cried. 'What about America and France and Holland and Germany?' 'But what about the rest of the world?' I cried.

References to cultural practices, culturally-tied words, and indigenous lifestyles were often modified:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
In five seconds, a voice was on the line. 'Here is the Sultan of Baghdad speaking,' the voice said.

'Listen, Sultan,' the Queen said.

 In five seconds, a voice was on the line. 'Here is the Mayor of Baghdad speaking,' the voice said.

'Listen, Mayor,' the Queen said.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
'I climbed up to their tree-house village and poked my head in through the door of the tree house belonging to the leader of the tribe.' 'I decided to speak to their leader.'
Esio Trot
'That's where all these tortoises in England come from, and a bedouin tribesman told me the secret.' 'That's where some of these tortoises in England come from, and a local person told me the secret.'
Fantastic Mr Fox
The fat Boggis was hopping about like a dervish and shouting, 'Faster! Faster!' Boggis was hopping about like a frog and shouting, 'Faster! Faster!'
James and the Giant Peach
There were caves everywhere running into the cloud, and at the entrances to the caves the Cloud-Men's wives were crouching over little stoves with frying-pans in their hands, frying snowballs for their husbands' suppers. There were houses everywhere running into the cloud.

Other changes focused on sex and gender. The word queer (in the sense "strange") was regularly removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
A queer little shiver passed through Sophie's body. A funny little shiver passed through Sophie's body.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
There was a moment of silence. Then a few queer rumblings were heard. Then silence again. Then suddenly, the machine let out a monstrous mighty groan. There was a moment of silence. Then a few strange rumblings were heard. Then silence again. Then suddenly, the machine let out a monstrous mighty groan.
George's Marvellous Medicine
'You're going to have some mighty queer chickens around here if you go on like this,' she said. 'You're going to have some mighty strange chickens around here if you go on like this,' she said.
James and the Giant Peach
They lived—Aunt Sponge, Aunt Spiker, and now James as well—in a queer ramshackle house on the top of a high hill in the south of England. They lived—Aunt Sponge, Aunt Spiker, and now James as well—in a strange ramshackle house on the top of a high hill in the south of England.
The Witches
That is why they have claws and bald heads and queer noses and peculiar eyes, all of which they have to conceal as best they can from the rest of the world. That is why they have claws and bald heads and strange noses and peculiar eyes, all of which they have to conceal as best they can from the rest of the world.

Most references to "men and women", "boys and girls", "mothers and fathers", and similar were replaced with gender-neutral words and phrases:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
'And let her dream that they will be creeping into England in the depths of the witching hour and snatching little boys and girls from their beds. Let her dream that they will be reaching into the bedroom windows and pulling the little boys and girls out of their beds and then...' Sophie paused. 'And let her dream that they will be creeping into England in the depths of the witching hour and snatching little children from their beds. Let her dream that they will be reaching into the bedroom windows and pulling the children out of their beds and then...' Sophie paused.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
All the children, except Charlie, had both their mothers and fathers with them, and it was a good thing that they had, otherwise the whole party might have got out of hand. All the children, except Charlie, had both their parents with them, and it was a good thing that they had, otherwise the whole party might have got out of hand.
The Enormous Crocodile
They were all from one family, and their mother had said they could go out and have a picnic together. They were all from one family, and their parents had said they could go out and have a picnic together.
Esio Trot
They are actually growing taller every week, but their mothers never notice it until they grow out of their clothes. They are actually growing taller every week, but their parents never notice it until they grow out of their clothes.
Fantastic Mr Fox
Even Weasel, who can usually sneak out of the tightest spots, is right now hiding down my hole, with Mrs Weasel and six kids. Even Weasel, who can usually sneak out of the tightest spots, is right now hiding down my hole with his family.
George's Marvellous Medicine
He didn't have a brother or a sister. He didn't have any siblings.
James and the Giant Peach
'Ssshh!' James whispered back. 'Don't let them hear you! They must be Cloud-Men!'

'Cloud-Men!' they murmured, huddling closed together for comfort.

 'Ssshh!' James whispered back. 'Don't let them hear you! They must be Cloud-People!'

'Cloud-People!' they murmured, huddling closed together for comfort.

Matilda
It was her turn now to become a heroine if only she could come up with a brilliant plot. It was her turn now to become a hero if only she could come up with a brilliant plot.
The Twits
If you looked closer still (hold your noses, ladies and gentlemen), if you peered deep into the moustachy bristles sticking out over his upper lip, you would probably see much larger objects that had escaped the wipe of his hand. If you looked closer still (hold your noses, folks), if you peered deep into the moustachy bristles sticking out over his upper lip, you would probably see much larger objects that had escaped the wipe of his hand.
The Witches
About half of them were old people with walking-sticks, but there were also plenty of families with a husband, a wife and several children. About half of them were old people with walking-sticks, but there were also plenty of families.

Similarly, masculine pronouns were changed in certain general circumstances:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
'Everybody is making his own rules to suit himself.' 'Everybody is making their own rules to suit themself.'
James and the Giant Peach
Everybody was beginning slowly and painfully to disentangle himself from everybody else. Everybody was beginning slowly and painfully to disentangle themselves from everybody else.
The Witches
'We will spear the blabbersnitch and trap the crabcruncher and shoot the grobblesquirt and catch the catspringer in his burrow!' 'We will spear the blabbersnitch and trap the crabcruncher and shoot the grobblesquirt and catch the catspringer in its burrow!'

And in some cases, references to gender were changed (including changing a prominent character in Fantastic Mr Fox from male to female):

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
'And then he says "Yes Sir I understand Sir but surely it is me you is wishing to speke to not my little son?"' 'And then he says "Yes Sir I understand Sir but surely it is me you is wishing to speke to not my little daughter?"'
Fantastic Mr Fox
The Small Fox ran back along the tunnel as fast as he could, carrying the three plump hens. He was exploding with joy. 'Just wait!' he kept thinking, 'just wait till Mummy sees these!' He had a long way to run but he never stopped once on the way and he came bursting in upon Mrs Fox. 'Mummy!' he cried, out of breath. 'Look, Mummy, look! Wake up and see what I've brought you!' The Small Fox ran back along the tunnel as fast as she could, carrying the three plump hens. She was exploding with joy. 'Just wait!' she kept thinking, 'just wait till Mummy sees these!' She had a long way to run but she never stopped once on the way and she came bursting in upon Mrs Fox. 'Mummy!' she cried, out of breath. 'Look, Mummy, look! Wake up and see what I've brought you!'
Matilda
'Well thrown, sir!' someone shouted from across the playground. 'Well thrown, miss!' someone shouted from across the playground.

References to behavioral differences between men and women were often removed or altered:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
Inside the jar, just below the edge of the label, Sophie could see the putting-to-sleep dream lying peacefully on the bottom, pulsing gently, sea-green like the other one, but perhaps a trifle larger.

'Do you have separate dreams for boys and for girls?' Sophie asked.

'Of course,' the BFG said. 'If I is giving a girl's dream to a boy, even if it was a really whoppsy girl's dream, the boy would be waking up and thinking what a rotbungling grinksludging old dream that was.'

'Boys would,' Sophie said.

'These here is all the girls' dreams on this shelf,' the BFG said.

'Can I read a boy's dream?'

 Inside the jar, just below the edge of the label, Sophie could see the putting-to-sleep dream lying peacefully on the bottom, pulsing gently, sea-green like the other one, but perhaps a trifle larger.

'Can I read more dreams?'

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
'My mother says it's not ladylike and it looks ugly to see a girl's jaws going up and down like mine...' 'My mother says it's undignified and it looks ugly to see jaws to be going up and down like mine...'
Fantastic Mr Fox
'We're done for,' he said softly. 'My poor wife up there is so weak she can't dig another yard.'

'Nor can mine,' said Mr Fox. 'And yet at this very minute she is preparing for me and my children the most delicious feast of plump juicy chickens...'

 'We're done for,' he said softly.

'No, we're not,' said Mr Fox. 'At this very minute Mrs Fox is preparing for me and my children the most delicious feast of plump juicy chickens...'

George's Marvellous Medicine
This was too much for George's mother to understand. She just goggled and gaped. She looked as though she was going to faint. A second later, George's father appeared. This was too much for George's mother to understand. She just goggled and gaped. A second later, George's father appeared.
James and the Giant Peach
They stopped running and stood there staring in a sort of stupor at what they thought was the biggest bomb in all the world falling out of the sky on to their heads. A few women screamed. Others knelt down on the side-walks and began praying aloud. Strong men turned to one another and said things like, 'I guess this is it, Joe,' and 'Good-bye, everybody, good-bye.' And for the next thirty seconds the whole City held its breath, waiting for the end to come. They stopped running and stood there staring in a sort of stupor at what they thought was the biggest bomb in all the world falling out of the sky on to their heads. And for the next thirty seconds the whole City held its breath, waiting for the end to come.
Matilda
It seemed that bingo afternoons left her so exhausted both physically and emotionally that she never had enough energy left to cook an evening meal. So if it wasn't TV dinners it had to be fish and chips. It seemed if it wasn't TV dinners it had to be fish and chips.
The Witches
All over the Dining-Room women were screaming and strong men were turning white in the face and shouting, 'It's crazy! This can't happen! Let's get the heck out of here quick!' All over the Dining-Room people were screaming, looking panicky and shouting, 'This can’t be happening!'

And references to roles traditionally associated with men or women were often altered:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
The military men began to twitch, but they stayed put. The military personnel began to twitch, but they stayed put.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
'I'm in the peanut business, you see, and I've got about a hundred women working for me over at my place, shelling peanuts for roasting and salting. That's what they do all day long, those women, they sit there shelling peanuts. So I says to them, "Okay, girls," I says, "from now on, you can stop shelling peanuts and start shelling the wrappers off these chocolate bars instead!"' 'I'm in the peanut business, you see, and I've got about a hundred people working for me over at my place, shelling peanuts for roasting and salting. That's what they do all day long, those people, they sit there shelling peanuts. So I says to them, "Okay, folks," I says, "from now on, you can stop shelling peanuts and start shelling the wrappers off these chocolate bars instead!"'
Esio Trot
A few weeks later, Mrs Silver became Mrs Hoppy and the two of them lived very happily ever after. A few weeks later, they got married and the two of them lived very happily ever after.
Fantastic Mr Fox
'Oh my, oh my, you'll never see finer geese than these in a king's kitchen.' 'Oh my, oh my, you'll never see finer geese than these in a royal kitchen.'
George's Marvellous Medicine
His father was a farmer, and the farm they lived on was miles away from anywhere, so there were never any children to play with. His parents were farmers, and the farm they lived on was miles away from anywhere, so there were never any children to play with.
James and the Giant Peach
The policemen and the firemen all started shouting at once. The police officers and the firefighters all started shouting at once.
Matilda
The school matron, followed by five teachers, three women and two men, came rushing into the room. The school nurse, followed by five teachers, three women and two men, came rushing into the room.
The Witches
A real witch spends all her time plotting to get rid of the children in her particular territory. [...] Even if she is working as a cashier in a supermarket or typing letters for a businessman or driving round in a fancy car (and she could be doing any of these things), her mind will always be plotting and scheming. A real witch spends all her time plotting to get rid of the children in her particular territory. [...] Even if she is working as a top scientist or running a business or driving round in a fancy car (and she could be doing any of these things), her mind will always be plotting and scheming.

Insults directed at women were often softened:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
George's Marvellous Medicine
'Don't listen to the old goat,' Mr Kranky said. 'Don't listen to the old grump,' Mr Kranky said.
James and the Giant Peach
And there they sat, those two ghastly hags, sipping their drinks and every now and again screaming at James to chop faster and faster. And there they sat, those two ghastly aunts, sipping their drinks and every now and again screaming at James to chop faster and faster.
The Twits
'You're the one, you ugly old cow, who went hopping around shouting "We're upside down! We're upside down!"' 'You're the one, you ghastly old shrew, who went hopping around shouting "We're upside down! We're upside down!"'
The Witches
'The old hag on table fourteen says this meat is too tough! She wants another portion!' 'The old crow on table fourteen says this meat is too tough! She wants another portion!'

And the stereotype of female shrillness was sometimes obscured:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
George's Marvellous Medicine
'I'm still going!' came the old screechy voice from up above. 'I'm still going!' came the old scratchy voice from up above.
James and the Giant Peach
She had a screeching voice and long wet narrow lips, and whenever she got angry or excited, little flecks of spit would come shooting out of her mouth as she talked. She had an annoying voice and long wet narrow lips, and whenever she got angry or excited, little flecks of spit would come shooting out of her mouth as she talked.
The Witches
You could hear Mrs Jenkins's shrill voice all over the room. 'Herbert!' it was screaming. 'Herbert, get me out of here! There's mice everywhere! They'll go up my skirts!' You could hear Mrs Jenkins yelling all over the room. 'Help!' she was shouting. 'Get me out of here! There's mice everywhere! They'll go up my skirts!'

Other changes focused on appearance and disabilities. References to people, especially women, being physically attractive or unattractive were frequently removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
They were simply colossal, far taller and wider than the Big Friendly Giant upon whose hand she was now sitting. And oh how ugly they were! Many of them had large bellies. All of them had long arms and big feet. They were simply colossal, far taller and wider than the Big Friendly Giant upon whose hand she was now sitting. Many of them had large bellies. All of them had long arms and big feet.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
'It seems as though they managed to dejuice her after all. I'm so glad. And how healthy she looks! Much better than before!' 'It seems as though they managed to dejuice her after all. I'm so glad. And how healthy she looks!'
Esio Trot
This balcony belonged to an attractive middle-aged lady called Mrs Silver. This balcony belonged to a kind middle-aged lady called Mrs Silver.
Matilda
She was a large woman whose hair was dyed platinum blonde except where you could see the mousy-brown bits growing out from the roots. She wore heavy make-up and had one of those unfortunate bulging figures where the flesh appears to be strapped in all around the body to prevent it from falling out. She was a large woman whose hair was dyed platinum blonde except where you could see the mousy-brown bits growing out from the roots.
The Twits
Mrs Twit may have been ugly and she may have been beastly, but she was not stupid. Mrs Twit may have been beastly, but she was not stupid.
The Witches
It was astonishing how that mask transformed her. All of a sudden she became once again a rather pretty young lady. It was astonishing how that mask transformed her.

The word fat was regularly removed, as were similar descriptions:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The finder was a boy called Augustus Gloop, and Mr Bucket's evening newspaper carried a large picture of him on the front page. The picture showed a nine-year-old boy who was so enormously fat he looked as though he had been blown up with a powerful pump. Great flabby folds of fat bulged out from every part of his body, and his face was like a monstrous ball of dough with two small greedy curranty eyes peering out upon the world. The finder was a boy called Augustus Gloop, and Mr Bucket's evening newspaper carried a large picture of him on the front page. The picture showed a nine-year-old boy who was so enormous he looked as though he had been blown up with a powerful pump. Great folds bulged out from every part of his body, and his face was like a ball of dough with two small greedy curranty eyes peering out upon the world.
The Enormous Crocodile
'I'll bet if you saw a fat juicy little child paddling in the water over there at this very moment, you'd gulp him up in one gollop!' 'I'll bet if you saw a juicy little child paddling in the water over there at this very moment, you'd gulp him up in one gollop!'
Fantastic Mr Fox
Boggis was a chicken farmer. He kept thousands of chickens. He was enormously fat. This was because he ate three boiled chickens smothered with dumplings every day for breakfast, lunch and supper. Boggis was a chicken farmer. He kept thousands of chickens. He was enormous. This was because he ate three boiled chickens smothered with dumplings every day for breakfast, lunch and supper.
James and the Giant Peach
Aunt Sponge was enormously fat and very short. Aunt Sponge was quite large and very short.
Matilda
Miss Honey looked at the plain plump person with the smug suet-pudding face who was sitting across the room. Miss Honey looked at the plain person with the smug pudding face who was sitting across the room.
The Twits
Quite soon, it had disappeared completely, sunk out of sight in the fatty folds of his flabby neck. Quite soon, it had disappeared completely, sunk out of sight in the folds of his neck.
The Witches
Mrs Jenkins took one look at the fat little brown mouse who was still chewing a bit of banana and she let out a shriek that rattled the crystals on the chandelier. Mrs Jenkins took one look at the little brown mouse who was still chewing a bit of banana and she let out a shriek that rattled the crystals on the chandelier.

References to short height were often removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
A village of Oompa-Loompas, with tiny houses and streets and hundreds of Oompa-Loompa children no more than four inches high playing in the streets... A village of Oompa-Loompas, with tiny houses and streets and hundreds of Oompa-Loompa children playing in the streets...
Esio Trot
Try to think how miserable it must make him feel to be so titchy! Everyone wants to grow up. Try to think how miserable it must make him feel! Everyone wants to grow up.
Fantastic Mr Fox
Bunce was a duck-and-goose farmer. He kept thousands of ducks and geese. He was a kind of pot-bellied dwarf. Bunce was a duck-and-goose farmer. He kept thousands of ducks and geese. He was pot-bellied.
George's Marvellous Medicine
Her legs were so short she had to have a footstool to put her feet on, and her head only came halfway up the back of the armchair. It was as if she was shrinking, as she had to have a footstool to put her feet on, and her head only came halfway up the back of the armchair.
James and the Giant Peach
And the massive round fruit towered over them so high that they looked like midgets from another world beside it. And the massive round fruit towered over them so high that they looked like ants beside it.
Matilda
'I am fed up with you useless bunch of midgets!' roared the Trunchbull. 'I am fed up with you useless bunch of squirts!' roared the Trunchbull.
The Witches
'You mean she did it, that skinny little woman over there!' shouted Mr Jenkins. 'You mean she did it, that skinny woman over there!' shouted Mr Jenkins.

And references to age were sometimes altered or removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
She was glad no one except her faithful old Mary was here to see what was going on. She was glad no one except her faithful Mary was here to see what was going on.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
I gave some to an old Oompa-Loompa once out in the back yard and he went up and up and up and disappeared out of sight! I gave some to an Oompa-Loompa once out in the back yard and he went up and up and up and disappeared out of sight!

The words crazy and mad, along with similar words, were regularly removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
But be careful, the Queen told herself. Keep very calm. Because this is surely not very far from the place where madness begins. But be careful, the Queen told herself. Keep very calm. Because this is surely not very far from the place where one's mind is lost.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Something crazy is going to happen now, Charlie thought. Something bizarre is going to happen now, Charlie thought.
Fantastic Mr Fox
The tall skinny Bean and dwarfish pot-bellied Bunce were driving their machines like maniacs, racing the motors and making the shovels dig at a terrific speed. Bean and Bunce were driving their machines with wild abandon, racing the motors and making the shovels dig at a terrific speed.
James and the Giant Peach
'They must be absolutely mad!' the Centipede said. 'There's nothing to be afraid of here!' 'What are they doing?!' the Centipede said. 'There's nothing to be afraid of here!'
Matilda
'All right,' said Nigel, wobbling crazily on his one leg. 'All right,' said Nigel, wobbling unsteadily on his one leg.
The Twits
'He's dotty!' they cried.

'He's balmy!'

'He's batty!'

'He's nutty!'

'He's screwy!'

'He's wacky!' cried the Roly-Poly Bird. 'Poor old Muggles has gone off his wump at last!'

 'He's dotty!' they cried.

'He's wacky!' cried the Roly-Poly Bird.

The Witches
'This woman's mad,' Mrs Jenkins said. 'This woman's clearly not in her right mind,' Mrs Jenkins said.

References to low intelligence and mental disorders were sometimes changed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
'BFG,' she said, 'would you please tell these rather dim-witted characters exactly what to do.' 'BFG,' she said, 'would you please tell them exactly what to do.'
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
And with the most tremendous chew

They bit the lady's tongue in two.

Thereafter, just from chewing gum,

Miss Bigelow was always dumb,

And spent her life shut up in some

Disgusting sanatorium.

 And with the most tremendous chew

They bit the lady's tongue in two.

Fantastic Mr Fox
They started running around in all directions, chasing the stupid chickens. They started running around in all directions, chasing the chickens.
James and the Giant Peach
'Let go, you idiot!' 'Let go, you clown!'
Matilda
'But I don't suppose this bunch of morons we've got here will ever read it because by the look of them they are never going to learn to read any thing!' 'But I don't suppose this bunch of brats we've got here will ever read it because by the look of them they are never going to learn to read any thing!'

And references to physical deformity or disability were commonly removed or altered:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
'You mean you can hear things I can't hear?' Sophie said.

'You is deaf as a dumpling compared with me!' cried the BFG. 'You is hearing only thumping loud noises with those little earwigs of yours. But I am hearing all the secret whisperings of the world!'

 'You mean you can hear things I can't hear?' Sophie said.

'You is hearing only thumping loud noises with those little earwigs of yours. But I am hearing all the secret whisperings of the world!'

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
But Augustus was deaf to everything except the call of his enormous stomach. But Augustus was ignoring everything.
James and the Giant Peach
'You know very well I'm blind,' snapped the Earthworm. 'There's no need to rub it in.' 'You know very well I'm blind,' snapped the Earthworm.
Matilda
'It is a curious truth that grasshoppers have their hearing-organs in the sides of the abdomen. Your daughter Vanessa, judging by what she's learnt this term, has no hearing-organs at all.' 'It is a curious truth that grasshoppers have their hearing-organs in the sides of the abdomen. Judging by what your daughter Vanessa has learnt this term, this fact alone is more interesting than anything I have taught in the classroom.'
The Twits
In her right hand she carried a walking stick. She used to tell people that this was because she had warts growing on the sole of her left foot and walking was painful. But the real reason she carried a stick was so that she could hit things with it, things like dogs and cats and small children. In her right hand she carried a walking stick. Not because she needed help walking. But the real reason she carried a stick was so that she could hit things with it, things like dogs and cats and small children.
The Witches
Then I told her about all the others taking off their wigs and their gloves and their shoes, and how I saw before me a sea of bald pimply heads and how the women's fingers had little claws and how their feet had no toes. Then I told her about all the others taking off their wigs and their gloves and their shoes, and how I saw before me a sea of bald heads and how the women's fingers had little claws and how their feet were square at the end.

References to lack of privilege were sometimes altered:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
She found it almost impossible to believe that she, Sophie, a little orphan of no real importance in the world, was at this moment actually sitting high above the ground on the windowsill of the Queen of England's bedroom. She found it almost impossible to believe that she, Sophie, was at this moment actually sitting high above the ground on the windowsill of the Queen of England's bedroom.
Esio Trot
'It's tortoise language,' Mr Hoppy said. 'Tortoises are very backwards creatures. Therefore they can only understand words that are written backwards.' 'It's tortoise language,' Mr Hoppy said. 'They can only understand words that are written backwards.'
Matilda
She had heard that parents like this existed all over the place and that their children turned out to be delinquents and drop-outs, but it was still a shock to meet a pair of them in the flesh. She had heard that parents like this existed all over the place, but it was still a shock to meet a pair of them in the flesh.

And references to poor personal hygiene were often removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
George's Marvellous Medicine
'How I'd love to walk in and slosh it all over old Grandma and watch the ticks and fleas go jumping off her.' 'How I'd love to walk in and slosh it all over old Grandma and give her quite the fright.'
The Twits
She lay there in the dark scratching her tummy. Her tummy was itching. Dirty old hags like her always have itchy tummies. She lay there in the dark scratching her tummy. Her tummy was always itchy.
The Witches
'The filthy old cow!' he shouted. 'I'll get her for this!' 'The monster!' he shouted. 'I'll get her for this!'

Some references to drinking alcohol and smoking were also changed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
While they were talking, the Smallest Fox had sneaked a jar off the shelf and had taken a gulp. 'Wow!' he gasped. 'Wow-ee!'

You must understand this was not the ordinary weak fizzy cider one buys in a store. It was the real stuff, a home-brewed fiery liquor that burned in your throat and boiled in your stomach.

'Ah-h-h-h-h-h!' gasped the Smallest Fox. 'This is some cider!'

 While they were talking, the Smallest Fox had sneaked a jar off the shelf and had removed the stopper. 'Wow!' she gasped at the smell. 'Wow-ee!'

You must understand this was not the ordinary weak fizzy cider one buys in a store. It was the real stuff, a home-brewed fiery liquor that burned in your throat and boiled in your stomach.

'Ah-h-h-h-h-h!' gasped the Smallest Fox, about to take a sip. 'This is some cider!'

Fantastic Mr Fox
'Glorious stuff!' said Mr Wonka. 'The Oompa-Loompas all adore it. It makes them tiddly. Listen! You can hear them in there now, whooping it up.'

Shrieks of laughter and snatches of singing could be heard coming through the closed door.

'They're drunk as lords,' said Mr Wonka. 'They're drinking butterscotch and soda.'

 'Glorious stuff!' said Mr Wonka. 'The Oompa-Loompas all adore it. Listen! You can hear them in there now, whooping it up.'

Shrieks of laughter and snatches of singing could be heard coming through the closed door.

'They're drinking butterscotch and soda.'

The Witches
When she got it lit at last, she took a long pull and sucked in the smoke. That seemed to calm her down a bit. When she got it lit at last, she took a long pull and sucked in the smoke.

Other changes focused on violence. Comic references to violence were sometimes removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
George's Marvellous Medicine
I shall make her a new medicine, one that is so strong and so fierce and so fantastic it will either cure her completely or blow off the top of her head. I shall make her a new medicine, one that is so strong and so fierce and so fantastic it will either cure her completely or shoot sparks out the top of her head.
The Witches
Oh, if only there were a way of telling for sure whether a woman was a witch or not, then we could round them all up and put them in the meat-grinder. Unhappily, there is no such way. Oh, if only there were a way of telling for sure whether a woman was a witch or not. Unhappily, there is no such way.

References to corporal punishment were changed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
'She needs a really good spanking,' said Grandma Georgina. 'She needs a really good talking to,' said Grandma Georgina.
George's Marvellous Medicine
'Your father'll be after you now! He'll give you socks and serve you right!' 'Your parents will be furious! They'll have you mucking out the stables for a month and it will serve you right!'
Matilda
'I wish I was grown up,' Nigel said. 'I'd knock her flat.'

'I doubt you would,' Miss Honey said. 'No one has ever got the better of her yet.'

 'I wish I was grown up,' Nigel said. 'I'd give her a right talking to.'

'I doubt you would,' Miss Honey said. 'No one has ever got the better of her yet.'

And references to deadly weapons were often removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The nine-year-old boy was seated before an enormous television set, with his eyes glued to the screen, and he was watching a film in which one bunch of gangsters was shooting up another bunch of gangsters with machine guns. Mike Teavee himself had no less than eighteen toy pistols of various sizes hanging from belts around his body, and every now and again he would leap up into the air and fire off half a dozen rounds from one or another of these weapons. The nine-year-old boy was seated before an enormous television set, with his eyes glued to the screen, and he was watching a film in which one bunch of gangsters was shooting up another bunch of gangsters.
Fantastic Mr Fox
Each man will have a gun and a flashlight. Each person will have a person and a flashlight.
Matilda
The mother grabbed a poker from the fireplace. The father took a golf-club that was standing in the corner. The brother seized a table-lamp, ripping the plug out of its socket. Matilda took the knife she had been eating with, and all four of them crept towards the dining-room door. The mother grabbed a poker from the fireplace. The father took a golf-club that was standing in the corner. The brother seized a table-lamp, ripping the plug out of its socket. And all four of them crept towards the dining-room door.

References to slaves and prisoners were removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
Esio Trot
'I beg you to tell me, Mr Hoppy! I'll be your slave for life.' When he heard the words your slave for life, a little shiver of excitement swept through Mr Hoppy. 'I beg you to tell me, Mr Hoppy! You'll be my hero for life.' When he heard the words my hero for life, a little shiver of excitement swept through Mr Hoppy.
Matilda
'And anyway, I was far too terrified to complain. I told you, I was her slave.' 'And anyway, I was far too terrified to complain.'
The Twits
She was a prisoner, and Mr Twit had intended to go away and leave her like that for a couple of days and nights to teach her a lesson. She was stuck, and Mr Twit had intended to go away and leave her like that for a couple of days and nights to teach her a lesson.

And certain references to death were removed:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
George's Marvellous Medicine
'Out of my way! Clear the decks! Stand back all you miserable midgets or I'll trample you to death!' 'Out of my way! Clear the decks! Stand back all you miserable bunch or I'll flatten you!'
James and the Giant Peach
They were like a couple of hunters who had just shot an elephant. They were like a couple of hunters who had just shot their prey.
Matilda
She would like to have said, 'Yes, I jolly well do,' but that would have been suicide. She would like to have said, 'Yes, I jolly well do,' but that would have been disastrous.

Other changes focused on words that in British English usage have taken on more vulgar associations:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
'For heaven's sake, get all that mud off your pants!' 'For heaven's sake, get all that mud off your trousers!'
Fantastic Mr Fox
'You saucy beast. I should have guessed we'd find you down here somewhere.' 'You trickster. I should have guessed we'd find you down here somewhere.'
George's Marvellous Medicine
The Pig, the Bullocks, the Sheep, the Pony and the Nanny Goat The Pig, the Sheep, the Pony and the Nanny Goat
James and the Giant Peach
James was promptly flung across the room into the Old-Green-Grasshopper's horny lap. James was promptly flung across the room into the Old-Green-Grasshopper's lap.
Matilda
'You can't make a living from sitting on your fanny and reading story-books.' 'You can't make a living from sitting on your backside and reading story-books.'
The Witches
'I'm too excited to eat. And I've got to keep fit and frisky for the big job ahead.' 'I'm too excited to eat. And I've got to keep fit for the big job ahead.'

Frequently the changes removed whole lines or passages:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The man behind the counter looked fat and well-fed. He had big lips and fat cheeks and a very fat neck. The fat around his neck bulged out all around the top of his collar like a rubber ring. He turned and reached behind him for the chocolate bar, then he turned back again and handed it to Charlie. He turned and reached behind him for the chocolate bar, then he turned back again and handed it to Charlie.
George's Marvellous Medicine
For a few minutes, Mrs Kranky kept wandering around with a puzzled look on her face, saying, 'Mother, where are you? Where've you gone? Where've you got to? How can I find you?' But she calmed down quite quickly. And by lunchtime, she was saying, 'Ah well, I suppose it's all for the best, really. She was a bit of a nuisance around the house, wasn’t she?'

'Yes,' Mr Kranky said. 'She most certainly was.'

George didn't say a word.

 For a few minutes, Mrs Kranky kept wandering around with a puzzled look on her face, saying, 'Mother, where are you? Where've you gone? Where've you got to? How can I find you?'

George didn't say a word.

Matilda
The appalling broad orange-and-green check of the jacket and trousers almost blinded the onlooker. He looked like a low-grade bookmaker dressed up for his daughter's wedding, and he was clearly very pleased with himself this evening. The appalling broad orange-and-green check of the jacket and trousers almost blinded the onlooker, and he was clearly very pleased with himself this evening.
The Witches
There now appeared in front of me row upon row of bald female heads, a sea of naked scalps, every one of them red and itchy-looking from being rubbed by the linings of the wigs. I simply cannot tell you how awful they were, and somehow the whole sight was made more grotesque because underneath those frightful scabby bald heads, the bodies were dressed in fashionable and rather pretty clothes. It was monstrous. It was unnatural. There now appeared in front of me row upon row of bald female heads, a sea of naked scalps, every one of them red and itchy-looking from being rubbed by the linings of the wigs.

Or replaced them with entirely new lines or passages:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
The BFG expressed a wish to learn how to speak properly, and Sophie, who loved him as she would a father, volunteered to give him lessons every day. According to the BFG's wishes, Sophie, who loved him as she would a father, taught him how to spell and write sentences.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
'Augustus Gloop! Augustus Gloop!

The great big greedy nincompoop!

How long could we allow this beast

To gorge and guzzle, feed and feast

On everything he wanted to?

Great Scott! It simply wouldn't do!

However long this pig might live,

We're positive he'd never give

Even the smallest bit of fun

Or happiness to anyone.

So what we do in cases such

As this, we use the gentle touch,

And carefully we take the brat

And turn him into something that

Will give great pleasure to us all –

A doll, for instance, or a ball,

Or marbles or a rocking horse.

But this revolting boy, of course,

Was so unutterably vile,

So greedy, foul, and infantile,

He left a most disgusting taste

Inside our mouths, and so in haste

We chose a thing that, come what way,

Would take the nasty taste away.'

 'Augustus Gloop! Augustus Gloop!

The great big greedy nincompoop!

For one such child as vile as he

Bad things happen, wait and see!

We cannot say we are surprised,

Augustus Gloop had been advised.

But then he took another sip

And now he's going on a trip.

Cover your eyes and cross your toes,

Whoosh, swoosh and off he goes!'

George's Marvellous Medicine
[No dedication.] This book is for doctors everywhere.
James and the Giant Peach
Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat,

And tremendously flabby at that.

Her tummy and waist

Were as soggy as paste –

It was worse on the place where she sat!

So she said, 'I must make myself flat.

I must make myself sleek as a cat.

I shall do without dinner

To make myself thinner.'

But along came the peach!

Oh, the beautiful peach!

And made her far thinner than that!

[...]

Aunt Spiker was thin as a wire,

And dry as a bone, only drier.

She was so long and thin

If you carried her in

You could use her for poking the fire!

'I must do something quickly,' she frowned.

'I want fat; I want pound upon pound!

I must eat lots and lots

Of marshmallows and chocs

Till I start bulging out all around.

'Ah, yes,' she announced, 'I have sworn

That I'll alter my figure by dawn!'

Cried the peach with a snigger,

'I'll alter your figure –'

And ironed her out on the lawn!

 Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute,

And deserved to be squashed by the fruit!

We all felt a big bump

When we dropped with a thump.

We left Aunt Sponge behind us

But you needn't remind us

That we shouldn’t feel rotten,

For we haven't forgotten

How spiteful she could be!

[...]

Aunt Spiker was much the same

And deserves half of the blame.

Ta-ra, Aunt Spiker!

(Though we never did like her)

It's sad but true.

If only she knew,

How the absence of charm

Can do so much harm.

With thoughts so frightful

One can't be delightful

And now worms will have Spiker for tea!

The Witches
'Don't be foolish,' my grandmother said. 'You can't go round pulling the hair of every lady you meet, even if she is wearing gloves. Just you try it and see what happens.' 'Don't be foolish,' my grandmother said. 'Besides, there are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.'

And in many cases the changes altered the meanings of their passages:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
The BFG
'Only my uncle, Caliph Haroun al Rashid,' the Sultan said. 'He disappeared from his bed three nights ago together with his wife and ten children.' 'Only my uncle,' the Mayor said. 'He disappeared from his bed three nights ago together with his wife and children.'
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
'I tried it on an Oompa-Loompa yesterday in the Testing Room and immediately a huge black beard started shooting out of his chin, and the beard grew so fast that soon it was trailing all over the floor in a thick hairy carpet. It was growing faster than we could cut it! In the end we had to use a lawn mower to keep it in check! But I'll get the mixture right soon! And when I do, then there'll be no excuse any more for little boys and girls going about with bald heads!' 'I tried it myself yesterday in the Testing Room and immediately a huge black beard started shooting out of my chin, and the beard grew so fast that soon it was trailing all over the floor in a thick hairy carpet. It was growing faster than we could cut it! In the end we had to use a lawn mower to keep it in check! But I'll get the mixture right soon! And when I do, everyone will have as much wonderful hair as they could wish for!'
George's Marvellous Medicine
It was exactly as though someone had pushed an electric wire through the underneath of her chair and switched on the current. It was as though someone had switched her chair with a fighter-jet seat and pressed the eject button.
Matilda
She went on olden-day sailing ships with Joseph Conrad. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and to India with Rudyard Kipling. She went to nineteenth-century estates with Jane Austen. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and California with John Steinbeck.

While the motivations for some changes were less clear:

Sample original text Sample 2023 text[13]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
'Who's the kid with a picture of The Lone Ranger stencilled on his windcheater?' 'Who's the kid with a picture of The Lone Ranger stencilled on his jacket?'
Fantastic Mr Fox
'That ought to cheer up poor Mrs Fox.' 'That ought to cheer up Mrs Fox.'
George's Marvellous Medicine
'From now on, you must eat cabbage three times a day. Mountains of cabbage! And if it's got caterpillars in it, so much the better!'

'Owch,' George said.

 'From now on, you must eat cabbage three times a day. Mountains of cabbage! And if it's got caterpillars in it, so much the better!'

'Ugh,' George said.

James and the Giant Peach
'Or rubbing him with sandpaper,' the Ladybird said. 'Or rubbing him with sandpaper,' said the Ladybird.
Matilda
This poisonous pustule that you see before you is none other than a disgusting criminal, a denizen of the underworld, a member of the Mafia! This poisonous pustule that you see before you is none other than a disgusting criminal, a resident of the underworld, a member of the Mafia!
The Twits
'You filthy old frumpet!' 'You filthy old frump!'
The Witches
'Oh, hel-lo Beatrice! I haven't seen you since the last meeting! What an adorable dress you have on!' 'Oh, hel-lo Beatrice! I haven't seen you since the last meeting! What a lovely dress you have on!'

Editions

Following the announcement, e-book copies of Dahl's works were automatically updated.[14][15]

On 23 February, Puffin Books announced "The Roald Dahl Classic Collection", consisting of Dahl's original texts. The expurgated versions will continue to be sold.[16]

Dahl's publishers in the United States, France, Spain, and the Netherlands announced they had declined to incorporate the changes altogether.[17]

Aftermath

Criticism of sensitivity readers
See also: Sensitivity reader

Puffin Books' use of sensitivity readers to determine potentially offensive words or phrases renewed criticism of sensitivity readers as a whole; the use of sensitivity readers in the industry has increased following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

American author Joyce Carol Oates wrote of the Dahl censorship, "One imagines unpaid interns gleefully censoring prose by renowned/no longer living writers. 'There, take that! See how it feels.'"[18]

British poet Kate Clanchy, whose own work was edited by sensitivity readers, wrote an essay in The Times in response to Puffin Books' revisions to Dahl, criticising sensitivity readers:[19]

After my Orwell prize-winning memoir Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me became embroiled in a Twitter storm, my publishers sought to solve the problem by sending the book to sensitivity readers. I was quite happy to do this, I thought it would help. […] One of my sensitivity readers told me that I should remove all mentions of terrorism and violence as it was "too heavy a topic with minors involved". […] I think these young people would also have agreed terrorism was "too heavy a topic" for them. Nevertheless, it happened in their lives and could not be clipped away from their experience like a sentence. I wanted my readers to understand that, even if it did discomfort them, because it was the truth, and I didn't want to change it even if it did mean losing my books.[20]

Readers

Many readers and fans expressed outrage at the idea that an author's words would be changed after death, or dismay at censorship. The backlash was so strong Puffin Books announced a few days later it would continue to publish the older versions of the books alongside the vaunted revised editions.[21][22][23][24]

Authors

The revisions were met with sharp criticism from numerous authors and literary groups. British-American novelist Salman Rushdie criticised the rewrites in a tweet, writing, "Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed."[25][17][26][27] Suzanne Nossel, the CEO of PEN America, spoke on behalf of the organisation to condemn Puffin Books' changes.[17][26][28] In an interview with Newsnight, author Margaret Atwood said concerning the censorship: "Good luck with Roald Dahl. You're just really going to have to replace the whole book if you want things to be nice. But this started a long time ago; it was the Disneyfication of fairy tales. What do I think of it? I'm with Chaucer, who said, 'If you don’t like this tale, turn over the page and read something else.'"[29] Author Christopher Paolini wrote in a tweet, "This is wrong. Ban a book if you must. Or put a content warning at the front. But don't rewrite it. Don't put words in an author's mouth (especially one who has no say in the matter)."[27] The revisions were further denounced by authors Walter Kirn,[30] Allison Pearson,[31] Kat Rosenfield,[32] and Christina Dalcher,[33] as well as the British Free Speech Union.[34]

In contrast, Joanne Harris, chair of the Society of Authors, praised the revisions.[35] English writer Philip Pullman suggested that Dahl's work should fade away in favour of authors such as Phil Earle, S. F. Said, or Frances Hardinge.[36]

Politicians and government

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, referencing The BFG, stated that Puffin Books "shouldn't gobblefunk around with words."[17][26][36] Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson recited the opening line of the poem "Augustus Gloop" (which had been heavily edited by Puffin) and compared Puffin's actions to Thomas Bowdler's expurgation of William Shakespeare's work.[37]

Kemi Badenoch, British Minister for Women and Equalities, spoke publicly on the matter, saying, "If you change everything old to look new, then people don't know what things used to be like, which means that you lose the institutional memory, you lose the collective memory," adding, "Changing the words that someone wrote I don't think is right."[38]

Queen Camilla was reportedly "shocked and dismayed" upon hearing about the revisions, and publicly denounced them.[17][39][40][41]

Other contemporary reactions

Several journalists have written op-eds on the controversy. The Atlantic's Helen Lewis used Dahl's novel My Uncle Oswald—known for its vulgarity, sexism, and themes of eugenics—to state that grotesque description of people is rooted within Dahl's work, and as such cannot be omitted, describing the revisions as "corporate safetyism".[42] In a differing opinion, Matthew Walter of The Lamp viewed the controversy as insignificant, comparing the release of the collection to New Coke and Coca-Cola Classic.[43]

English comedian Ricky Gervais poked fun at the changes in a tweet.[44] The revisions were also criticised by actor Brian Cox[38] and media personalities Whoopi Goldberg[45] and Piers Morgan.[46]

Legacy

On 26 February 2023, Ian Fleming Publications announced that Ian Fleming's James Bond series would receive several revisions, including removing racial slurs and a racist depiction of African Americans in Live and Let Die, following a review from sensitivity reviewers.[47]

Around this time, it was also revealed that the Goosebumps books by R. L. Stine had already been expurgated, without the author's knowledge or consent.[48]

A month later, it was announced Enid Blyton's works would be expurgated as well.[49][50][51]

See also

References
  1. Sawer, Patrick (25 February 2023). "Roald Dahl warned 'politically correct' publishers – 'change one word and deal with my crocodile'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  2. Dahl, Roald (August 1983). "Not a Chivalrous Affair". Literary Review. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  3. Syed, Armani (20 February 2023). "Why Rewrites to Roald Dahl's Books Are Stirring Controversy". Time. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  4. Guy, Jack (22 September 2021). "Netflix buys rights to Roald Dahl's beloved children's stories". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  5. Murphy, Simon (6 November 2018). "Royal Mint rejected Roald Dahl coin over antisemitic views". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  6. Cameron, Eleanor (19 October 1972). "McLuhan, Youth, and Literature: Part I". The Horn Book Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  7. Dirda, Michael (12 May 1991). "The Disturbing Mr. Dahl". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  8. Landsberg, Michele (27 September 1998). "Think Twice about Roald Dahl". Lilith. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  9. Mullally, Una (3 September 2016). "Women, as written by Roald Dahl". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  10. Siddique, Haroon (13 September 2017). "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory hero 'was originally black'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  11. Schwartz, Michael (6 December 2020). "Roald Dahl Family Apologizes For Children's Author's Anti-Semitism". NPR. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  12. Kirka, Danica (19 February 2023). "Critics reject changes to Roald Dahl books as censorship". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  13. Cumming, Ed; Buchanan, Abigail; Holl-Allen, Genevieve; Smith, Benedict (24 February 2023). "Roald Dahl rewritten: the hundreds of changes made to suit a new 'sensitive' generation". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  14. Meek, Andy (1 March 2023). "The Roald Dahl censorship news is a reminder your eBooks aren't safe from the sensitivity police". BGR. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  15. Ellery, Ben; Beal, James (25 February 2023). "Roald Dahl ebooks 'force censored versions on readers' despite backlash". The Times. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  16. "Publisher rolls back proposed changes to Roald Dahl books after backlash". ABC News. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  17. Blair, Elizabeth (24 February 2023). "Roald Dahl's publisher responds to backlash by keeping 'classic' texts in print". NPR. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  18. Oates, Joyce Carol [@JoyceCarolOates] (18 February 2023). "Who are 'sensitivity readers' after all?" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  19. Gollom, Mark (5 March 2023). "Why 'sensitivity readers' are causing such a stir in the publishing world". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  20. Clanchy, Kate (21 February 2023). "I was censored by 'sensitivity readers'. Now they're on to Roald Dahl". The Times. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  21. Hughes, William (18 February 2023). "Fans react to publisher efforts to edit in a kinder, gentler Roald Dahl". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  22. Das, Amrita (19 February 2023). "'It staggers me': Netizens react as Roald Dahl's books are edited to remove words deemed sensitive". SKPop. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  23. O'Neill, Natalie (24 February 2023). "Roald Dahl publisher backtracks, will also print 'un-woke' versions of books". New York Post. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  24. Jakhwal, Sejal (22 February 2023). "Revised Versions of Roald Dahl's Books Reach Stores, Publishers Criticised for 'Absurd Censorship'". IndiaTimes. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
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