Former British prime minister Boris Johnson is the latest high-profile individual disparaging the rewriting of some of Roald Dahl’s popular books for children.
Johnson expressed his “irritation at wokeness and political correctness” for the changes made in the books to remove language that was deemed offensive by so-called sensitivity readers.
The former PM said, “people should be vigilant about freedom of speech” while insisting nothing would ever stop him from reciting Dahl’s original words.
His comments come after Penguin Random House (owner of Puffin) last week said it would publish the original versions of Dahl’s novels following the public outcry over the alterations.
Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also among the many other high-profile Britians—including Camilla, Queen Consort, and authors Frederick Forsyth and Salman Rushdie—who have panned the changes.
Uncensored Versions
After the public outcry, U.S.-based Penguin Random House on Feb. 24 said Puffin would publish the original, uncensored versions of Dahl’s novels.Penguin Random House Children’s managing director Francesca Dow said the publisher would release 17 of Dahl’s titles under its Penguin logo later this year, with the original text unchanged.
“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,” Dow said in a statement.
Altered Text
Puffin had claimed the reason for the censoring was not to cause offense with 2022 versions of the books being changed or had parts removed in places where gender, race, or physical appearance were mentioned.Examples of alterations include the “enormously fat” Augustus Gloop from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” which has become “enormous”, while Mrs. Twit from “The Twits” was no longer “ugly.”
The word “crazy” has also been replaced with “furious” or has otherwise been removed outright, as has the word “mad,” while “policemen” has been replaced with “police officers,” and Oompa Loompas are no longer “small men,” but “small people” reported UK newspaper The Telegraph.
The Telegraph reportedly found hundreds of changes to Dahl’s original stories.
‘Inclusion Ambassadors’
Some parents who have purchased the new editions have shared screenshots of the note via Twitter. The note stresses Puffin’s gratitude to the organization Inclusive Minds for “introducing us to its network of inclusion ambassadors.”Many of Dahl’s stories feature repugnant adult characters who a child must overcome. Dahl’s stinging and quirky descriptions of adult antagonists, like Miss Trunchbull in “Matilda,” have delighted young readers for decades.
Puffin publishes Dahl’s works, including “James and the Giant Peach” and “The Witches” in partnership with the Roald Dahl Story Company.
Dahl died in 1990, aged 74.
