Roald Dahl classics modified to remove stereotypical language, move sparks criticism
Roald Dahl classics
The British publisher of Roald Dahl's classic children's books is being slammed for censorship by critics after they removed colourful language from classics such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Matilda" to make them more in sync with modern readers.A scan through the new editions of Dahl's books now available in bookstores shows that content relating to weight, mental health, gender and race were modified as reported by Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Augustus Gloop, Charlie's hoggish antagonist in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," which originally was published in 1964, is no longer "enormously fat," just "enormous." in the new edition.
The word "black" was omitted from the description of the terrible tractors in 1970s "The Fabulous Mr. Fox." The machines as per the latest editions are just "murderous, brutal-looking monsters."
Salman Rushdie was among the first to react to this rewriting of Dahl's words. Rushdie was brutally attacked last year at an event in New York state.
"Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship,'' Rushdie wrote on Twitter. "Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed.''
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
The revisions to Dahl's writings constitute the most recent debate over cultural sensitivity.
ALSO READ |Richard Belzer, TV actor and comedian, passes away at 74
The revisionists say the idea behind the changes was toprotect young people from cultural, ethnic,which and gender stereotypes in literature and other forms of media.
ALSO WATCH |Salman Rushdie's first interview since 2022 stabbing
The Roald Dahl Story Company that controls the rights to the books, said it worked with Puffin Books to re-examine the texts because it wanted to ensure that "Dahl's wonderful stories and characters continue to be enjoyed by all children today."
The language was revised in partnership with Inclusive Minds, a collectiveaimed at makingchildren's literature more inclusive and accessible. Any changes were "small and carefully considered," the company told AFP.
(With inputs from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE: