Some of the language included throughout author Roald Dahl’s books is being changed and critics are not happy.
Writer Andrew Doyle shared some of the changes being made to titles including “The Witches” and “Matilda.”
One of the changes made by Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Random House, to “The Witches” is language around a woman working as a “cashier in a supermarket” or “typing letters for a businessman.”
The change reads, “Even if she is working as a top scientist or running a business.”
As for Matilda, the edit changes language around books the character reads.
Instead of going on “olden-day sailing ships with Joseph Conrad,” in the updated version, Matilda is going to “nineteenth century estates with Jane Austen.”
Roald Dahl’s books have been censored in new editions by Puffin.
— Andrew Doyle (@andrewdoyle_com) February 19, 2023
These aren’t Dahl’s books. Buy the old versions. https://t.co/sRrGcMUUDE pic.twitter.com/rMig3Albr3
Several users on Twitter spoke out against the changes being made to the works.
Author Salman Rushdie tweeted, “Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed.”
Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed. https://t.co/sdjMfBr7WW
— Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) February 18, 2023
One user wrote, “So future generations are so fragile they can’t read books with an understanding of the period in which they were written? Just to be extra safe, should we burn the old books?”
So future generations are so fragile they can’t read books with an understanding of the period in which they were written?
— @jason (@Jason) February 19, 2023
Just to be extra safe, should we burn the old books? 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/xeCuAeRtpC
Another argued, “They are erasing history in front of our eyes. By physical books now. Soon everything will be 100% PC nonsense.”
https://twitter.com/DaleStarkA10/status/1627342950828249089
Reporter Benjamin Ryan suggested Dahl’s works are “made to offend. One of the central joys about them is their unfettered naughtiness.”
https://twitter.com/benryanwriter/status/1627394655133351936
Political analyst Arieh Kovler asked, “Won’t they have to scrap whole chapters of Willie Wonka and the Great Glass Elevator?”
Won't they have to scrap whole chapters of Willie Wonka and the Great Glass Elevator? https://t.co/MF6HwXiY5j
— Arieh Kovler (@ariehkovler) February 19, 2023
See more tweets below:
The #WokeArmy is coming for not only your children but also the books of your childhood. https://t.co/7NzyRLH9fA
— Asra Nomani (@AsraNomani) February 19, 2023
They think kids are so stupid.
— Megan K. Stack (@Megankstack) February 19, 2023
They don’t understand how the intelligent child absorbs raw markers of mindset and culture through precisely this — reading old things that are different/intriguing — and slowly builds an understanding of past + history and change and now.
Sigh. https://t.co/NfiRRY75ni
The "offensiveness" of Dahl's books is fairly integral to them. Kids' encounters with meanness, and even brutality, are key elements of many of the stories. https://t.co/EpbBQM0GsX
— davidrlurie (@davidrlurie) February 19, 2023
This is worse than a book because it is so dishonest and fraudulent. https://t.co/BvzQAl89qM
— EnlightenedBaka (@EnlightenedBak2) February 19, 2023
I hate when this is done. Keep them as is. Don't erase history. Look at it. https://t.co/gFGN4DuKur
— Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker) February 19, 2023
This is an absurd and dangerous road to go down. If we’re editing old texts that might cause offense today then the list of candidates is endless.
— Yair Zivan (@YairZivan) February 19, 2023
I’ve got some news for people about Shakespeare and Dickens.
Literature should be read and understood in context. https://t.co/UD7eaqONi3
According to The Associated Press, the Roald Dahl Story Company, which has the rights to the books, shared that it worked with the publisher to review the texts as it wanted to guarantee “Dahl’s wonderful stories and characters continue to be enjoyed by all children today.”
