Lemony Snicket author slams attempts to censor 'offensive' Roald Dahl books as he insists children should read about 'wretched things'

1 month ago 18

By Chris Matthews

Published: 09:52 BST, 29 July 2024 | Updated: 09:52 BST, 29 July 2024

Children need to read about 'wretched' things and not be protected from 'offensive' words, best-selling author Daniel Handler has said.

The Lemony Snicket writer has hit out at publishers rewriting Roald Dahl's books to make them more 'inclusive' by removing words such as 'fat'.

The 54-year-old said he understands the 'urge' to remove offensive language but condemned the 'tinkering' of the BFG and Witches author's work.

The A Series of Unfortunate Events writer said Dahl's work was 'offensive' - and it should be kept this way.

Dahl, who sold 300 million copies of his work, wrote children's classics including James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Twits.

Children need to read about 'wretched' things and not be protected from 'offensive' words, best-selling author Daniel Handler (pictured) has said

The Lemony Snicket writer has hit out at publishers rewriting Roald Dahl's books to make them more 'inclusive' by removing words such as 'fat'. Pictured: Jim Carrey as Count Olaf in the 2004 film of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Anjelica Huston (left) as Miss Eva Ernst, the Grand High Witch, in a scene from the 1990 film adapted from Roald Dahl's children's classic The Witches (right)

In February last year it was revealed that Puffin Books had re-edited some of the texts to remove language that today's readers might deem offensive when it comes to race, gender, weight, and mental health.

It was forced to U-turn after announcing more 50 changes last year to Roald Dahl's 1983 children's novel The Witches

These changes included characters who are no longer described as 'fat' and references to 'mothers' and 'fathers' that have been updated to 'parents' or 'family'.

When asked on the Private Passions podcast whether he supported the rewriting of Dahl's work, Handler said: 'Well, I was against it. I mean, I understand that urge.

Dahl (pictured), who sold 300 million copies of his work, wrote children's classics including James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Twits

'You know, if you're with a child and there's a strange noise in the middle of the night, what you want to say is that is nothing.

'If they see something from a news report, I understand that you want to be protectionist about it.'

He continued: 'You just can't, and you certainly can't do it by tinkering with Roald Dahl until his words are not offensive.

'His words are offensive. I mean, he was an offensive person in some ways, and his stories are full of really, really wretched things.

'That's a wonderful way to learn about wretched things.'

How editors tried to change Roald Dahl's stories

THE WITCHES

Original - 'Don't be foolish,' my grandmother said. 'You can't go round pulling the hair of every lady you meet, even if she is wearing gloves. Just you try it and see what happens.'

2023 - 'Don't be foolish,' my grandmother said. 'Besides, there are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.'

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

2001 - Mrs Salt was a great fat creature with short legs, and she was blowing like a rhinoceros

2022 - Mrs Salt was so out of breath, she was blowing like a rhinoceros

THE TWITS

2001 - Mrs Twit may have been ugly and she may have been beastly, but she was not stupid

2022 - Mrs Twit may have been beastly, but she was not stupid.

MATILDA

2001 - Get your mother or father

2022 - Get your family

THE BFG

2001 - 'BFG,' she said, 'would you please tell these rather dim-witted characters exactly what to do.'

2022 - 'BFG,' she said, 'would you please tell them exactly what to do'.