Censorship or rewriting ?

My kids loved Roald Dahl books I think they pretty much read all of them. When they were very young I read the Minpins as a bedtime story, my older one was completely captivated by The Witches and it was always one of his go to books to read again and we all loved his Revolting Rhymes, just so funny. I found his material far superior to David Walliams books which my granddaughter seemed to like at one time. I know Roald Dahl has had certain accusations levied at him, I'm scratching my head trying to think of what would need to be censored in his books though, like the Potter books they captured the imagination of many a child and children need that if they are to become lifetime readers and not be turned off at the first hurdle by books that they find dull and don't fire up their imagination. Some of the suggested reads, not all, they brought home from school did just that, turned them off.

My childhood beloved books, The Blytons suffered from the same fate and whilst I think it was absolutely justifiable to take the N word out of the title of one of the Christie books, I think it should be remembered the most writers were of their time and often their class and that is reflected in their writing.

Who are these people who have nothing better to do? Why do they think that books which have been enjoyed by many over the years must now be sanitised? Must our eyes never see a word which some random nerd deems offensive?

I consider it censorship. If the parent or carer doesn’t like it, they are adults and can remove the books from the children. It doesn’t matter if it’s Dahl, Hemingway or Steinbeck…

Absolutely, GrannyGravy13! I couldn’t agree more. Dahl appeals to children because of his absurd sense of fun - books like Revolting Rhymes are loved by children, parents and teachers. He’s a great author for reluctant readers, too.

Whatever next? I suppose pantomime scripts will have to be rewritten, too, for fear of giving offence or frightening children. If we are concerned about anything in children's lives we should look at some of the ghastly games available on X-boxes, etc.

I think Dahl was of his time.
Leave it alone and encourage children to read in context - and discuss. Also, read other things.
Read something new - and probably better.

Roald, not Ronald! Effing autocorrect!!

…like a dog’s bottom, of course.

I once read that Dahl said that quaint description came to him because his little dog was often on his desk while he was writing, so he spent a lot of time confronted by ‘Kipper’s arse’.

just wondering what grans think
Extreme blasphemy was let rip 😡

Ronald Dahl must be turning in his grave, that’s all I can say. Augustus Gloop is no longer allowed to be fat!

What about Mrs Twit, I wonder? She with the ‘pale brown teeth and a puckered-up mouth like dog’s bottom’? Has she been airbrushed, so to speak?

There's far too much sanitising happening. Those who may find some words in his stories offensive don't need to read them and/or share them with their children.

I am against all forms of censorship in literature.

We should learn from the past, not culture wash