Should the much-loved books of Roald Dahl be rewritten?

Books by the much-loved but controversial children’s author have been rewritten to cater for the sensitivities of modern audiences.

Rishi Sunak has condemned the rewriting of Roald Dahl’s books after the latest editions were edited to remove potentially offensive language. Downing Street said works of art should be preserved and not ‘airbrushed’ for modern audiences.

The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books confirmed they had carried out a review of Dahl’s classics to ensure they can be enjoyed by all children.

This meant the removal or rewriting of content deemed offensive, such as references to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race.

• Mrs Twit, from the Twits, is no longer “ugly and beastly”, but simply “beastly”
• In the same book, “a weird African language” is no longer weird
• The words “crazy” and “mad” have also been removed as a result of an emphasis on mental health
• A threat to “knock her flat” in Matilda has become “give her a right talking to”
• References to colours have also been changed – the BFG’s coat is no longer black; while Mary in The BFG now goes “still as a statue” instead of “white as a sheet”

But Downing Street said the Prime Minister had concerns about rewriting the books – and quoted Dahl’s BFG in a warning not to “gobblefunk” with words.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “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.”

The official added: “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.”

Dahl died in 1990 at the age of 74 but has regularly topped the list of the nation’s favourite authors.

But his legacy has been marred by his antisemitic views.

In 2020, his family apologised, saying they recognised the “lasting and understandable hurt caused by Roald Dahl’s antisemitic statements”.

His Dark Materials author Sir Philip Pullman suggested Dahl’s works should be left to “fade away” and go out of print as modern tastes move on.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think Roald Dahl can look after himself, I haven’t read his books for very many years and I don’t want to again.”

Sir Philip added: “If Dahl offends us, let him go out of print.”

What are your views? Should the much-loved books of Roald Dahl be rewritten? Where do we draw the line of rewriting literature?