(PresidentialWire.com)- A controversy concerning whether or not classic works of literature should be updated to reflect contemporary values was sparked after the publisher of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novels made changes to make the works more inclusive.
Puffin, the book’s publisher, performed dozens of edits to remove any potentially unpleasant language or phrases. They also inserted material that Dahl didn’t write.
The editors’ choice to update sections of Dahl’s books generated a discussion online over whether or not it is acceptable to update earlier works to reflect the tastes of contemporary readers. The publisher was criticized for changing the author’s past works, although some said they were inappropriate for today’s youth since they included obscene material.
Roald Dahl’s original works have been reviewed by the Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books to make them accessible to a broader audience of young readers.
Distasteful allusions to body size, mental illness, physical violence, sexual orientation, and race must be scrubbed or reworked.
The term “fat” was supposedly scrubbed from all of the books. Augustus Gloop is instead characterized as “enormous” in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
CEO of PEN America, a network of over 7,000 authors promoting freedom of speech, Suzanne Nossel, has spoken out against the alterations made to Dahl’s children’s classics.
Ms. Nossel tweeted her “horror” at the rumored revisions, expressing concern that the ability to alter textbooks may be misused in the near future.
People who support alterations to Dahl’s works should think about how individuals who do not share their beliefs and tastes may utilize the ability to rewrite novels.
After reading them as children, several adult readers were somewhat aback to hear that changes had been made to Dahl’s classics.
Since 2020, the Roald Dahl Story Company claims to have reviewed the books and made “minor and thoroughly studied” changes.
They teamed up with Puffin and Inclusive Minds, which promotes diversity and accessibility in children’s books.
The Roald Dahl Story Company has released a statement expressing their desire to see “all youngsters today” experience Roald Dahl’s “great tales and characters.”
