Roald Dahl publisher’s crackdown on 'offensive' language receives backlash: ‘Absolutely insane’

In case you missed it, the works of Roald Dahl are undergoing a massive change.

Puffin Books, the publisher of the author’s works, has hired ‘sensitivity readers’ to scan and edit the books to replace language deemed ‘offensive’. (You can read more about it here.)


The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books are introducing the changes with the help of Inclusive Minds, an organisation of ‘people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature’.

A spokesperson for Inclusive Minds said they want ‘authentic representation’ through collaborating with the publishing industry and people ‘who have lived experience of any facet of diversity’.

The said changes, according to reports, would see words like ‘fat’ replaced with ‘enormous’, as with Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Oompa Loompas in the story are now gender-neutral ‘small people’ instead of ‘small men’.

In The Twits, Mrs Twit, from being called ‘ugly and beastly’, is now only ‘beastly’.


4999557488_020f02462e_o.jpg
Roald Dahl’s works are being edited to be more inclusive, but the development hasn’t gone over well. Image Credit: Flickr


Characters described as ‘female’ are now termed as ‘woman’, like the ‘most formidable female’ Ms Trunchbull in Matilda, who is now the ‘most formidable woman’.

There are also some instances where parts are entirely scrapped and replaced with new content.

The Centipede in James and the Giant Peach sang in early editions: ‘Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat / And tremendously flabby at that’. The line has apparently been completely removed and replaced with: ‘Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute / And deserved to be squashed by the fruit.’

Suffice it to say, despite the well-meaning intentions, many people aren’t pleased.


‘This is appalling’

Ninety-eight per cent of respondents in a Daily Mail MailOnline poll agreed that the author’s works should be kept in their original state.

Elsewhere online, British cyberspace erupted with disdain from people who were critical of the move.

‘Write your own books and leave other books alone,’ one mum said in a popular forum for parents. ‘I find the whole thing utterly horrific and shudder to think that there are enough people in the profession to cheer this on.’

Another parent said the move was ‘absolutely insane’.

‘These are children’s books that have been beloved for decades. I won’t be buying the new versions for my two little ones.’


photo-1583468991267-3f068b607ae1.jpg
Parents blasted the editing of Dahl’s works as an absurd move. Image Credit: Unsplash


‘Seems kind of random,’ a third said. ‘Sooner or later, someone with crooked teeth will complain, and they will need to do another reprint.’

Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses and Haroun and the Sea of Stories, called the development ‘absurd censorship’ on Twitter.

The discussion has gotten so fierce that even British PM Rishi Sunak has joined the fray!

'When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn't “gobblefunk” around with words,’ a spokesperson said, referencing Dahl’s The BFG, which used made-up terms like ‘propsposterous’ to keep readers engaged.

'I think it's important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed.’

'We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.'


Back home, many Aussies also shared similar sentiments over the development.

‘Absolutely insane. What an insult to Roald Dahl. His way of writing and use of words is why his books are so damn interesting for kids and even adults. Even my 10-year-old daughter said this was stupid and that if you don't like the words, don't read it!!! Simple, really,’ one mum said. ‘Why does the future of our kids have to be so protected and planned out for them by removing everything that may be offensive? Can they not make their own choices as they grow?’

‘It's life, it will be offensive in ways, but they need to know how to handle that. We are moulding an incredibly soft next generation!’ she added.

Others dismissed the whole thing as another consequence of ‘wokeness’.

‘So do we have to re-write every book ever written pre the “woke brigade”? This is an absolute joke! I’ve proudly read these books to my children, and guess what — they don’t go around calling people fat or skinny! As a parent, I’ve taught them right from wrong,’ another mum said.

Few supporters applaud edits to Dahl’s work

While it may seem that opinions for the move overwhelmingly skew against it, there are a few who have spoken out in support of the measure.

‘I love the Road Dahl books and have started reading them to my 4-year-old, but there are words and phrases used in there that are now understood to be harmful, and I'm pleased that small changes are being made, so they are more inclusive. It also ensures they'll stay loved,’ one mum said on Twitter.

Another mum added: ‘As long as the originals are still available, I'm quite happy to have more inclusive versions to read to my little one. I've been horrified at the content of some things I read as a child, having revisited them as an adult.’


Roald Dahl's Most Popular Books_.jpg
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda are among Roald Dahl's most popular books Down Under, according to Penguin Books Australia. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club


Amid a fierce outcry, Puffin makes an announcement

Critics of the measure may find their anger assuaged a bit as Puffin Books has announced that it will continue to republish unedited versions of Dahl’s works alongside the controversial new editions, which some have tagged as ‘airbrushed’.

‘We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,’ Penguin Random House, which Puffin Books operates under, said.

‘As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care. Roald Dahl’s fantastic books are often the first stories young children will read independently, and taking care of the imaginations and fast-developing minds of young readers is both a privilege and a responsibility.’

‘We also recognise the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print. By making both Puffin and Penguin versions available, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, marvellous stories.’


Well, at least there’s an option for everyone!

We understand this is a divisive matter for many, so we want to ask you: what are your thoughts on this?

Do you agree that Roald Dahl’s works — and many other pieces showing ‘dated’ and potentially politically incorrect language — should be edited to be in keeping with modern times?

Or should these classic works be left as they are?

Tell us your thoughts below!


Source: YouTube/Telling Tales with Carl Ashmore
 
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Why not just ban books all together, we could burn them, would that make all these PC woke persons happy. The world is going to crap and this blind agreeance catering to the minority will be everyone's demise.
 
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Just leave things alone…obviously something else that “all the DoGooders” think needs fixing
Part of our childhood…if you don’t like them, then write something new for this generation…but leave our classics as they are!!
 
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No one changed the Bible or Koran so leave these books alone. They have been published so they will not be the same books if edited and published again.
 
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In case you missed it, the works of Roald Dahl are undergoing a massive change.

Puffin Books, the publisher of the author’s works, has hired ‘sensitivity readers’ to scan and edit the books to replace language deemed ‘offensive’. (You can read more about it here.)


The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books are introducing the changes with the help of Inclusive Minds, an organisation of ‘people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature’.

A spokesperson for Inclusive Minds said they want ‘authentic representation’ through collaborating with the publishing industry and people ‘who have lived experience of any facet of diversity’.

The said changes, according to reports, would see words like ‘fat’ replaced with ‘enormous’, as with Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Oompa Loompas in the story are now gender-neutral ‘small people’ instead of ‘small men’.

In The Twits, Mrs Twit, from being called ‘ugly and beastly’, is now only ‘beastly’.


View attachment 14639
Roald Dahl’s works are being edited to be more inclusive, but the development hasn’t gone over well. Image Credit: Flickr


Characters described as ‘female’ are now termed as ‘woman’, like the ‘most formidable female’ Ms Trunchbull in Matilda, who is now the ‘most formidable woman’.

There are also some instances where parts are entirely scrapped and replaced with new content.

The Centipede in James and the Giant Peach sang in early editions: ‘Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat / And tremendously flabby at that’. The line has apparently been completely removed and replaced with: ‘Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute / And deserved to be squashed by the fruit.’

Suffice it to say, despite the well-meaning intentions, many people aren’t pleased.


‘This is appalling’

Ninety-eight per cent of respondents in a Daily Mail MailOnline poll agreed that the author’s works should be kept in their original state.

Elsewhere online, British cyberspace erupted with disdain from people who were critical of the move.

‘Write your own books and leave other books alone,’ one mum said in a popular forum for parents. ‘I find the whole thing utterly horrific and shudder to think that there are enough people in the profession to cheer this on.’

Another parent said the move was ‘absolutely insane’.

‘These are children’s books that have been beloved for decades. I won’t be buying the new versions for my two little ones.’


View attachment 14640
Parents blasted the editing of Dahl’s works as an absurd move. Image Credit: Unsplash


‘Seems kind of random,’ a third said. ‘Sooner or later, someone with crooked teeth will complain, and they will need to do another reprint.’

Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses and Haroun and the Sea of Stories, called the development ‘absurd censorship’ on Twitter.

The discussion has gotten so fierce that even British PM Rishi Sunak has joined the fray!

'When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn't “gobblefunk” around with words,’ a spokesperson said, referencing Dahl’s The BFG, which used made-up terms like ‘propsposterous’ to keep readers engaged.

'I think it's important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed.’

'We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.'


Back home, many Aussies also shared similar sentiments over the development.

‘Absolutely insane. What an insult to Roald Dahl. His way of writing and use of words is why his books are so damn interesting for kids and even adults. Even my 10-year-old daughter said this was stupid and that if you don't like the words, don't read it!!! Simple, really,’ one mum said. ‘Why does the future of our kids have to be so protected and planned out for them by removing everything that may be offensive? Can they not make their own choices as they grow?’

‘It's life, it will be offensive in ways, but they need to know how to handle that. We are moulding an incredibly soft next generation!’ she added.

Others dismissed the whole thing as another consequence of ‘wokeness’.

‘So do we have to re-write every book ever written pre the “woke brigade”? This is an absolute joke! I’ve proudly read these books to my children, and guess what — they don’t go around calling people fat or skinny! As a parent, I’ve taught them right from wrong,’ another mum said.

Few supporters applaud edits to Dahl’s work

While it may seem that opinions for the move overwhelmingly skew against it, there are a few who have spoken out in support of the measure.

‘I love the Road Dahl books and have started reading them to my 4-year-old, but there are words and phrases used in there that are now understood to be harmful, and I'm pleased that small changes are being made, so they are more inclusive. It also ensures they'll stay loved,’ one mum said on Twitter.

Another mum added: ‘As long as the originals are still available, I'm quite happy to have more inclusive versions to read to my little one. I've been horrified at the content of some things I read as a child, having revisited them as an adult.’


View attachment 14646
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda are among Roald Dahl's most popular books Down Under, according to Penguin Books Australia. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club


Amid a fierce outcry, Puffin makes an announcement

Critics of the measure may find their anger assuaged a bit as Puffin Books has announced that it will continue to republish unedited versions of Dahl’s works alongside the controversial new editions, which some have tagged as ‘airbrushed’.

‘We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,’ Penguin Random House, which Puffin Books operates under, said.

‘As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care. Roald Dahl’s fantastic books are often the first stories young children will read independently, and taking care of the imaginations and fast-developing minds of young readers is both a privilege and a responsibility.’

‘We also recognise the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print. By making both Puffin and Penguin versions available, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, marvellous stories.’


Well, at least there’s an option for everyone!

We understand this is a divisive matter for many, so we want to ask you: what are your thoughts on this?

Do you agree that Roald Dahl’s works — and many other pieces showing ‘dated’ and potentially politically incorrect language — should be edited to be in keeping with modern times?

Or should these classic works be left as they are?

Tell us your thoughts below!


Source: YouTube/Telling Tales with Carl Ashmore

Who's next? Shakespeare? I'm sur
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ricci
In case you missed it, the works of Roald Dahl are undergoing a massive change.

Puffin Books, the publisher of the author’s works, has hired ‘sensitivity readers’ to scan and edit the books to replace language deemed ‘offensive’. (You can read more about it here.)


The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books are introducing the changes with the help of Inclusive Minds, an organisation of ‘people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature’.

A spokesperson for Inclusive Minds said they want ‘authentic representation’ through collaborating with the publishing industry and people ‘who have lived experience of any facet of diversity’.

The said changes, according to reports, would see words like ‘fat’ replaced with ‘enormous’, as with Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Oompa Loompas in the story are now gender-neutral ‘small people’ instead of ‘small men’.

In The Twits, Mrs Twit, from being called ‘ugly and beastly’, is now only ‘beastly’.


View attachment 14639
Roald Dahl’s works are being edited to be more inclusive, but the development hasn’t gone over well. Image Credit: Flickr


Characters described as ‘female’ are now termed as ‘woman’, like the ‘most formidable female’ Ms Trunchbull in Matilda, who is now the ‘most formidable woman’.

There are also some instances where parts are entirely scrapped and replaced with new content.

The Centipede in James and the Giant Peach sang in early editions: ‘Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat / And tremendously flabby at that’. The line has apparently been completely removed and replaced with: ‘Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute / And deserved to be squashed by the fruit.’

Suffice it to say, despite the well-meaning intentions, many people aren’t pleased.


‘This is appalling’

Ninety-eight per cent of respondents in a Daily Mail MailOnline poll agreed that the author’s works should be kept in their original state.

Elsewhere online, British cyberspace erupted with disdain from people who were critical of the move.

‘Write your own books and leave other books alone,’ one mum said in a popular forum for parents. ‘I find the whole thing utterly horrific and shudder to think that there are enough people in the profession to cheer this on.’

Another parent said the move was ‘absolutely insane’.

‘These are children’s books that have been beloved for decades. I won’t be buying the new versions for my two little ones.’


View attachment 14640
Parents blasted the editing of Dahl’s works as an absurd move. Image Credit: Unsplash


‘Seems kind of random,’ a third said. ‘Sooner or later, someone with crooked teeth will complain, and they will need to do another reprint.’

Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses and Haroun and the Sea of Stories, called the development ‘absurd censorship’ on Twitter.

The discussion has gotten so fierce that even British PM Rishi Sunak has joined the fray!

'When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn't “gobblefunk” around with words,’ a spokesperson said, referencing Dahl’s The BFG, which used made-up terms like ‘propsposterous’ to keep readers engaged.

'I think it's important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed.’

'We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.'


Back home, many Aussies also shared similar sentiments over the development.

‘Absolutely insane. What an insult to Roald Dahl. His way of writing and use of words is why his books are so damn interesting for kids and even adults. Even my 10-year-old daughter said this was stupid and that if you don't like the words, don't read it!!! Simple, really,’ one mum said. ‘Why does the future of our kids have to be so protected and planned out for them by removing everything that may be offensive? Can they not make their own choices as they grow?’

‘It's life, it will be offensive in ways, but they need to know how to handle that. We are moulding an incredibly soft next generation!’ she added.

Others dismissed the whole thing as another consequence of ‘wokeness’.

‘So do we have to re-write every book ever written pre the “woke brigade”? This is an absolute joke! I’ve proudly read these books to my children, and guess what — they don’t go around calling people fat or skinny! As a parent, I’ve taught them right from wrong,’ another mum said.

Few supporters applaud edits to Dahl’s work

While it may seem that opinions for the move overwhelmingly skew against it, there are a few who have spoken out in support of the measure.

‘I love the Road Dahl books and have started reading them to my 4-year-old, but there are words and phrases used in there that are now understood to be harmful, and I'm pleased that small changes are being made, so they are more inclusive. It also ensures they'll stay loved,’ one mum said on Twitter.

Another mum added: ‘As long as the originals are still available, I'm quite happy to have more inclusive versions to read to my little one. I've been horrified at the content of some things I read as a child, having revisited them as an adult.’


View attachment 14646
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda are among Roald Dahl's most popular books Down Under, according to Penguin Books Australia. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club


Amid a fierce outcry, Puffin makes an announcement

Critics of the measure may find their anger assuaged a bit as Puffin Books has announced that it will continue to republish unedited versions of Dahl’s works alongside the controversial new editions, which some have tagged as ‘airbrushed’.

‘We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,’ Penguin Random House, which Puffin Books operates under, said.

‘As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care. Roald Dahl’s fantastic books are often the first stories young children will read independently, and taking care of the imaginations and fast-developing minds of young readers is both a privilege and a responsibility.’

‘We also recognise the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print. By making both Puffin and Penguin versions available, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, marvellous stories.’


Well, at least there’s an option for everyone!

We understand this is a divisive matter for many, so we want to ask you: what are your thoughts on this?

Do you agree that Roald Dahl’s works — and many other pieces showing ‘dated’ and potentially politically incorrect language — should be edited to be in keeping with modern times?

Or should these classic works be left as they are?

Tell us your thoughts below!


Source: YouTube/Telling Tales with Carl Ashmore

Who's next??? Shakespeare? I'm sure this new generation will find plenty to be offended about in there. Why are catering to this generation of thin skinned people who hav
 
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what is wrong with this world,,,babies grow into adults and read all sorts of books, children read a variety of books ,these to goody two shoe's people need to get a life and let the rest of us decide what we want to read as well as our children,,,every thing we know from our childhood had WORDS in them,,never bothered or offended anyone back them,, Roald Dahl books,,anything to do with colour or the odd few WORDS is now reworded so it doesn't offend,,grow up people for goodness sake,,,things are seriously going to far
 
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Or The Bible???
Well as the bible is already a fake story as it is even the woke mob couldn't mess it up any more than it is now. Chronologically it makes no sense at all. I know as I read it in my teenage years to find something to like but found only lies & inconsistencies, mind you the koran is the same & I read that fairly recently. I have also read Mao's little red book also but not' mine camp' as that is too much to bear.
 
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She sure did, along with Secret 7 and so many other great children's books.
Starting early I can remember the Magic FarawayTree series, The Wishing Chair series, then followed by Famous Five and so many others.
All my friends and I read just about every Enid Blyton book ever written.At 76 I'm surprised that we all managed to grow up to be well balanced productive members of society without all these crazy 'woke" people to tell us how to run our lives

Actually, it's Noddy and Big Ears we can't mention. Didn't Enid write the "Famous Five"?
 
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Do kids even still read these days? All the youngsters I see are glued to their screens and only read/write in social media shorthand.
Who are these do-gooders doing this for, certainly not the really little kids who just want a good story read to them and wouldn't even understand that they are supposed to be offended by the actual words.
Older kids that can read for themselves are also not open to the "correctness" of the written word, in fact if the story contains icky bits so much the better!
Have these people never heard of the saying sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? Toughen up people, not everything in this world is rainbows and unicorns, deal with it.
 
In case you missed it, the works of Roald Dahl are undergoing a massive change.

Puffin Books, the publisher of the author’s works, has hired ‘sensitivity readers’ to scan and edit the books to replace language deemed ‘offensive’. (You can read more about it here.)


The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books are introducing the changes with the help of Inclusive Minds, an organisation of ‘people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature’.

A spokesperson for Inclusive Minds said they want ‘authentic representation’ through collaborating with the publishing industry and people ‘who have lived experience of any facet of diversity’.

The said changes, according to reports, would see words like ‘fat’ replaced with ‘enormous’, as with Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Oompa Loompas in the story are now gender-neutral ‘small people’ instead of ‘small men’.

In The Twits, Mrs Twit, from being called ‘ugly and beastly’, is now only ‘beastly’.


View attachment 14639
Roald Dahl’s works are being edited to be more inclusive, but the development hasn’t gone over well. Image Credit: Flickr


Characters described as ‘female’ are now termed as ‘woman’, like the ‘most formidable female’ Ms Trunchbull in Matilda, who is now the ‘most formidable woman’.

There are also some instances where parts are entirely scrapped and replaced with new content.

The Centipede in James and the Giant Peach sang in early editions: ‘Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat / And tremendously flabby at that’. The line has apparently been completely removed and replaced with: ‘Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute / And deserved to be squashed by the fruit.’

Suffice it to say, despite the well-meaning intentions, many people aren’t pleased.


‘This is appalling’

Ninety-eight per cent of respondents in a Daily Mail MailOnline poll agreed that the author’s works should be kept in their original state.

Elsewhere online, British cyberspace erupted with disdain from people who were critical of the move.

‘Write your own books and leave other books alone,’ one mum said in a popular forum for parents. ‘I find the whole thing utterly horrific and shudder to think that there are enough people in the profession to cheer this on.’

Another parent said the move was ‘absolutely insane’.

‘These are children’s books that have been beloved for decades. I won’t be buying the new versions for my two little ones.’


View attachment 14640
Parents blasted the editing of Dahl’s works as an absurd move. Image Credit: Unsplash


‘Seems kind of random,’ a third said. ‘Sooner or later, someone with crooked teeth will complain, and they will need to do another reprint.’

Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses and Haroun and the Sea of Stories, called the development ‘absurd censorship’ on Twitter.

The discussion has gotten so fierce that even British PM Rishi Sunak has joined the fray!

'When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn't “gobblefunk” around with words,’ a spokesperson said, referencing Dahl’s The BFG, which used made-up terms like ‘propsposterous’ to keep readers engaged.

'I think it's important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed.’

'We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.'


Back home, many Aussies also shared similar sentiments over the development.

‘Absolutely insane. What an insult to Roald Dahl. His way of writing and use of words is why his books are so damn interesting for kids and even adults. Even my 10-year-old daughter said this was stupid and that if you don't like the words, don't read it!!! Simple, really,’ one mum said. ‘Why does the future of our kids have to be so protected and planned out for them by removing everything that may be offensive? Can they not make their own choices as they grow?’

‘It's life, it will be offensive in ways, but they need to know how to handle that. We are moulding an incredibly soft next generation!’ she added.

Others dismissed the whole thing as another consequence of ‘wokeness’.

‘So do we have to re-write every book ever written pre the “woke brigade”? This is an absolute joke! I’ve proudly read these books to my children, and guess what — they don’t go around calling people fat or skinny! As a parent, I’ve taught them right from wrong,’ another mum said.

Few supporters applaud edits to Dahl’s work

While it may seem that opinions for the move overwhelmingly skew against it, there are a few who have spoken out in support of the measure.

‘I love the Road Dahl books and have started reading them to my 4-year-old, but there are words and phrases used in there that are now understood to be harmful, and I'm pleased that small changes are being made, so they are more inclusive. It also ensures they'll stay loved,’ one mum said on Twitter.

Another mum added: ‘As long as the originals are still available, I'm quite happy to have more inclusive versions to read to my little one. I've been horrified at the content of some things I read as a child, having revisited them as an adult.’


View attachment 14646
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda are among Roald Dahl's most popular books Down Under, according to Penguin Books Australia. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club


Amid a fierce outcry, Puffin makes an announcement

Critics of the measure may find their anger assuaged a bit as Puffin Books has announced that it will continue to republish unedited versions of Dahl’s works alongside the controversial new editions, which some have tagged as ‘airbrushed’.

‘We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,’ Penguin Random House, which Puffin Books operates under, said.

‘As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care. Roald Dahl’s fantastic books are often the first stories young children will read independently, and taking care of the imaginations and fast-developing minds of young readers is both a privilege and a responsibility.’

‘We also recognise the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print. By making both Puffin and Penguin versions available, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, marvellous stories.’


Well, at least there’s an option for everyone!

We understand this is a divisive matter for many, so we want to ask you: what are your thoughts on this?

Do you agree that Roald Dahl’s works — and many other pieces showing ‘dated’ and potentially politically incorrect language — should be edited to be in keeping with modern times?

Or should these classic works be left as they are?

Tell us your thoughts below!


Source: YouTube/Telling Tales with Carl Ashmore

I don't like Roald Dahl as a person, his politics and views, but his books should be left alone. When we are told what we can read and what we can't that's a slippery slope to fascism or communism.
 
terri mentions today's generation being too soft, but it is not them that are changing it - they are the poor soulss who suffer from this namby pamby-ism! It's the one's before them (and after us, of course), and we, unfortunately, trained them to do this sort of thing. We taught them to look for what can be changed and change it if it makes the end result better. The issue is, define "better"!

I think "they" probably think they are doing the right thing, but unfortunately it is this type of attitude that causes problems with history as a whole. A little tweak here, a little tweak there .... "They" need to remember they were brought up with the text the way it was intended and, in the most case, they aren't too bad! I would really doubt any Roald Dahl book has ever corrupted a child, made them inconsiderate, caused inferiority complexes or generally tainted any child's outlook on life. Society does that, not books!
 
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In case you missed it, the works of Roald Dahl are undergoing a massive change.

Puffin Books, the publisher of the author’s works, has hired ‘sensitivity readers’ to scan and edit the books to replace language deemed ‘offensive’. (You can read more about it here.)


The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books are introducing the changes with the help of Inclusive Minds, an organisation of ‘people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature’.

A spokesperson for Inclusive Minds said they want ‘authentic representation’ through collaborating with the publishing industry and people ‘who have lived experience of any facet of diversity’.

The said changes, according to reports, would see words like ‘fat’ replaced with ‘enormous’, as with Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Oompa Loompas in the story are now gender-neutral ‘small people’ instead of ‘small men’.

In The Twits, Mrs Twit, from being called ‘ugly and beastly’, is now only ‘beastly’.


View attachment 14639
Roald Dahl’s works are being edited to be more inclusive, but the development hasn’t gone over well. Image Credit: Flickr


Characters described as ‘female’ are now termed as ‘woman’, like the ‘most formidable female’ Ms Trunchbull in Matilda, who is now the ‘most formidable woman’.

There are also some instances where parts are entirely scrapped and replaced with new content.

The Centipede in James and the Giant Peach sang in early editions: ‘Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat / And tremendously flabby at that’. The line has apparently been completely removed and replaced with: ‘Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute / And deserved to be squashed by the fruit.’

Suffice it to say, despite the well-meaning intentions, many people aren’t pleased.


‘This is appalling’

Ninety-eight per cent of respondents in a Daily Mail MailOnline poll agreed that the author’s works should be kept in their original state.

Elsewhere online, British cyberspace erupted with disdain from people who were critical of the move.

‘Write your own books and leave other books alone,’ one mum said in a popular forum for parents. ‘I find the whole thing utterly horrific and shudder to think that there are enough people in the profession to cheer this on.’

Another parent said the move was ‘absolutely insane’.

‘These are children’s books that have been beloved for decades. I won’t be buying the new versions for my two little ones.’


View attachment 14640
Parents blasted the editing of Dahl’s works as an absurd move. Image Credit: Unsplash


‘Seems kind of random,’ a third said. ‘Sooner or later, someone with crooked teeth will complain, and they will need to do another reprint.’

Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses and Haroun and the Sea of Stories, called the development ‘absurd censorship’ on Twitter.

The discussion has gotten so fierce that even British PM Rishi Sunak has joined the fray!

'When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn't “gobblefunk” around with words,’ a spokesperson said, referencing Dahl’s The BFG, which used made-up terms like ‘propsposterous’ to keep readers engaged.

'I think it's important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed.’

'We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.'


Back home, many Aussies also shared similar sentiments over the development.

‘Absolutely insane. What an insult to Roald Dahl. His way of writing and use of words is why his books are so damn interesting for kids and even adults. Even my 10-year-old daughter said this was stupid and that if you don't like the words, don't read it!!! Simple, really,’ one mum said. ‘Why does the future of our kids have to be so protected and planned out for them by removing everything that may be offensive? Can they not make their own choices as they grow?’

‘It's life, it will be offensive in ways, but they need to know how to handle that. We are moulding an incredibly soft next generation!’ she added.

Others dismissed the whole thing as another consequence of ‘wokeness’.

‘So do we have to re-write every book ever written pre the “woke brigade”? This is an absolute joke! I’ve proudly read these books to my children, and guess what — they don’t go around calling people fat or skinny! As a parent, I’ve taught them right from wrong,’ another mum said.

Few supporters applaud edits to Dahl’s work

While it may seem that opinions for the move overwhelmingly skew against it, there are a few who have spoken out in support of the measure.

‘I love the Road Dahl books and have started reading them to my 4-year-old, but there are words and phrases used in there that are now understood to be harmful, and I'm pleased that small changes are being made, so they are more inclusive. It also ensures they'll stay loved,’ one mum said on Twitter.

Another mum added: ‘As long as the originals are still available, I'm quite happy to have more inclusive versions to read to my little one. I've been horrified at the content of some things I read as a child, having revisited them as an adult.’


View attachment 14646
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda are among Roald Dahl's most popular books Down Under, according to Penguin Books Australia. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club


Amid a fierce outcry, Puffin makes an announcement

Critics of the measure may find their anger assuaged a bit as Puffin Books has announced that it will continue to republish unedited versions of Dahl’s works alongside the controversial new editions, which some have tagged as ‘airbrushed’.

‘We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,’ Penguin Random House, which Puffin Books operates under, said.

‘As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care. Roald Dahl’s fantastic books are often the first stories young children will read independently, and taking care of the imaginations and fast-developing minds of young readers is both a privilege and a responsibility.’

‘We also recognise the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print. By making both Puffin and Penguin versions available, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, marvellous stories.’


Well, at least there’s an option for everyone!

We understand this is a divisive matter for many, so we want to ask you: what are your thoughts on this?

Do you agree that Roald Dahl’s works — and many other pieces showing ‘dated’ and potentially politically incorrect language — should be edited to be in keeping with modern times?

Or should these classic works be left as they are?

Tell us your thoughts below!


Source: YouTube/Telling Tales with Carl Ashmore
 
Out of date information! Because Queen Camilla has said so, these books are to remain in their original form!!
 
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I am over weight, but I would rather be called fat than enormous (this is the substitute for fat!!!)
Some of the other new words are just as silly.
 
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In case you missed it, the works of Roald Dahl are undergoing a massive change.

Puffin Books, the publisher of the author’s works, has hired ‘sensitivity readers’ to scan and edit the books to replace language deemed ‘offensive’. (You can read more about it here.)


The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books are introducing the changes with the help of Inclusive Minds, an organisation of ‘people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature’.

A spokesperson for Inclusive Minds said they want ‘authentic representation’ through collaborating with the publishing industry and people ‘who have lived experience of any facet of diversity’.

The said changes, according to reports, would see words like ‘fat’ replaced with ‘enormous’, as with Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Oompa Loompas in the story are now gender-neutral ‘small people’ instead of ‘small men’.

In The Twits, Mrs Twit, from being called ‘ugly and beastly’, is now only ‘beastly’.


View attachment 14639
Roald Dahl’s works are being edited to be more inclusive, but the development hasn’t gone over well. Image Credit: Flickr


Characters described as ‘female’ are now termed as ‘woman’, like the ‘most formidable female’ Ms Trunchbull in Matilda, who is now the ‘most formidable woman’.

There are also some instances where parts are entirely scrapped and replaced with new content.

The Centipede in James and the Giant Peach sang in early editions: ‘Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat / And tremendously flabby at that’. The line has apparently been completely removed and replaced with: ‘Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute / And deserved to be squashed by the fruit.’

Suffice it to say, despite the well-meaning intentions, many people aren’t pleased.


‘This is appalling’

Ninety-eight per cent of respondents in a Daily Mail MailOnline poll agreed that the author’s works should be kept in their original state.

Elsewhere online, British cyberspace erupted with disdain from people who were critical of the move.

‘Write your own books and leave other books alone,’ one mum said in a popular forum for parents. ‘I find the whole thing utterly horrific and shudder to think that there are enough people in the profession to cheer this on.’

Another parent said the move was ‘absolutely insane’.

‘These are children’s books that have been beloved for decades. I won’t be buying the new versions for my two little ones.’


View attachment 14640
Parents blasted the editing of Dahl’s works as an absurd move. Image Credit: Unsplash


‘Seems kind of random,’ a third said. ‘Sooner or later, someone with crooked teeth will complain, and they will need to do another reprint.’

Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses and Haroun and the Sea of Stories, called the development ‘absurd censorship’ on Twitter.

The discussion has gotten so fierce that even British PM Rishi Sunak has joined the fray!

'When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn't “gobblefunk” around with words,’ a spokesperson said, referencing Dahl’s The BFG, which used made-up terms like ‘propsposterous’ to keep readers engaged.

'I think it's important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed.’

'We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.'


Back home, many Aussies also shared similar sentiments over the development.

‘Absolutely insane. What an insult to Roald Dahl. His way of writing and use of words is why his books are so damn interesting for kids and even adults. Even my 10-year-old daughter said this was stupid and that if you don't like the words, don't read it!!! Simple, really,’ one mum said. ‘Why does the future of our kids have to be so protected and planned out for them by removing everything that may be offensive? Can they not make their own choices as they grow?’

‘It's life, it will be offensive in ways, but they need to know how to handle that. We are moulding an incredibly soft next generation!’ she added.

Others dismissed the whole thing as another consequence of ‘wokeness’.

‘So do we have to re-write every book ever written pre the “woke brigade”? This is an absolute joke! I’ve proudly read these books to my children, and guess what — they don’t go around calling people fat or skinny! As a parent, I’ve taught them right from wrong,’ another mum said.

Few supporters applaud edits to Dahl’s work

While it may seem that opinions for the move overwhelmingly skew against it, there are a few who have spoken out in support of the measure.

‘I love the Road Dahl books and have started reading them to my 4-year-old, but there are words and phrases used in there that are now understood to be harmful, and I'm pleased that small changes are being made, so they are more inclusive. It also ensures they'll stay loved,’ one mum said on Twitter.

Another mum added: ‘As long as the originals are still available, I'm quite happy to have more inclusive versions to read to my little one. I've been horrified at the content of some things I read as a child, having revisited them as an adult.’


View attachment 14646
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda are among Roald Dahl's most popular books Down Under, according to Penguin Books Australia. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club


Amid a fierce outcry, Puffin makes an announcement

Critics of the measure may find their anger assuaged a bit as Puffin Books has announced that it will continue to republish unedited versions of Dahl’s works alongside the controversial new editions, which some have tagged as ‘airbrushed’.

‘We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,’ Penguin Random House, which Puffin Books operates under, said.

‘As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care. Roald Dahl’s fantastic books are often the first stories young children will read independently, and taking care of the imaginations and fast-developing minds of young readers is both a privilege and a responsibility.’

‘We also recognise the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print. By making both Puffin and Penguin versions available, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, marvellous stories.’


Well, at least there’s an option for everyone!

We understand this is a divisive matter for many, so we want to ask you: what are your thoughts on this?

Do you agree that Roald Dahl’s works — and many other pieces showing ‘dated’ and potentially politically incorrect language — should be edited to be in keeping with modern times?

Or should these classic works be left as they are?

Tell us your thoughts below!


Source: YouTube/Telling Tales with Carl Ashmore
 
In case you missed it, the works of Roald Dahl are undergoing a massive change.

Puffin Books, the publisher of the author’s works, has hired ‘sensitivity readers’ to scan and edit the books to replace language deemed ‘offensive’. (You can read more about it here.)


The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books are introducing the changes with the help of Inclusive Minds, an organisation of ‘people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature’.

A spokesperson for Inclusive Minds said they want ‘authentic representation’ through collaborating with the publishing industry and people ‘who have lived experience of any facet of diversity’.

The said changes, according to reports, would see words like ‘fat’ replaced with ‘enormous’, as with Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Oompa Loompas in the story are now gender-neutral ‘small people’ instead of ‘small men’.

In The Twits, Mrs Twit, from being called ‘ugly and beastly’, is now only ‘beastly’.


View attachment 14639
Roald Dahl’s works are being edited to be more inclusive, but the development hasn’t gone over well. Image Credit: Flickr


Characters described as ‘female’ are now termed as ‘woman’, like the ‘most formidable female’ Ms Trunchbull in Matilda, who is now the ‘most formidable woman’.

There are also some instances where parts are entirely scrapped and replaced with new content.

The Centipede in James and the Giant Peach sang in early editions: ‘Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat / And tremendously flabby at that’. The line has apparently been completely removed and replaced with: ‘Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute / And deserved to be squashed by the fruit.’

Suffice it to say, despite the well-meaning intentions, many people aren’t pleased.


‘This is appalling’

Ninety-eight per cent of respondents in a Daily Mail MailOnline poll agreed that the author’s works should be kept in their original state.

Elsewhere online, British cyberspace erupted with disdain from people who were critical of the move.

‘Write your own books and leave other books alone,’ one mum said in a popular forum for parents. ‘I find the whole thing utterly horrific and shudder to think that there are enough people in the profession to cheer this on.’

Another parent said the move was ‘absolutely insane’.

‘These are children’s books that have been beloved for decades. I won’t be buying the new versions for my two little ones.’


View attachment 14640
Parents blasted the editing of Dahl’s works as an absurd move. Image Credit: Unsplash


‘Seems kind of random,’ a third said. ‘Sooner or later, someone with crooked teeth will complain, and they will need to do another reprint.’

Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses and Haroun and the Sea of Stories, called the development ‘absurd censorship’ on Twitter.

The discussion has gotten so fierce that even British PM Rishi Sunak has joined the fray!

'When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn't “gobblefunk” around with words,’ a spokesperson said, referencing Dahl’s The BFG, which used made-up terms like ‘propsposterous’ to keep readers engaged.

'I think it's important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed.’

'We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.'


Back home, many Aussies also shared similar sentiments over the development.

‘Absolutely insane. What an insult to Roald Dahl. His way of writing and use of words is why his books are so damn interesting for kids and even adults. Even my 10-year-old daughter said this was stupid and that if you don't like the words, don't read it!!! Simple, really,’ one mum said. ‘Why does the future of our kids have to be so protected and planned out for them by removing everything that may be offensive? Can they not make their own choices as they grow?’

‘It's life, it will be offensive in ways, but they need to know how to handle that. We are moulding an incredibly soft next generation!’ she added.

Others dismissed the whole thing as another consequence of ‘wokeness’.

‘So do we have to re-write every book ever written pre the “woke brigade”? This is an absolute joke! I’ve proudly read these books to my children, and guess what — they don’t go around calling people fat or skinny! As a parent, I’ve taught them right from wrong,’ another mum said.

Few supporters applaud edits to Dahl’s work

While it may seem that opinions for the move overwhelmingly skew against it, there are a few who have spoken out in support of the measure.

‘I love the Road Dahl books and have started reading them to my 4-year-old, but there are words and phrases used in there that are now understood to be harmful, and I'm pleased that small changes are being made, so they are more inclusive. It also ensures they'll stay loved,’ one mum said on Twitter.

Another mum added: ‘As long as the originals are still available, I'm quite happy to have more inclusive versions to read to my little one. I've been horrified at the content of some things I read as a child, having revisited them as an adult.’


View attachment 14646
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda are among Roald Dahl's most popular books Down Under, according to Penguin Books Australia. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club


Amid a fierce outcry, Puffin makes an announcement

Critics of the measure may find their anger assuaged a bit as Puffin Books has announced that it will continue to republish unedited versions of Dahl’s works alongside the controversial new editions, which some have tagged as ‘airbrushed’.

‘We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,’ Penguin Random House, which Puffin Books operates under, said.

‘As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care. Roald Dahl’s fantastic books are often the first stories young children will read independently, and taking care of the imaginations and fast-developing minds of young readers is both a privilege and a responsibility.’

‘We also recognise the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print. By making both Puffin and Penguin versions available, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, marvellous stories.’


Well, at least there’s an option for everyone!

We understand this is a divisive matter for many, so we want to ask you: what are your thoughts on this?

Do you agree that Roald Dahl’s works — and many other pieces showing ‘dated’ and potentially politically incorrect language — should be edited to be in keeping with modern times?

Or should these classic works be left as they are?

Tell us your thoughts below!


Source: YouTube/Telling Tales with Carl Ashmore

stop pandering to this Small woke group of people who it seems are upset with everything.

If they don't like it don't read the books
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ricci

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