And it's happening again!
Roald Dahl had been writing since the 1940s and it's now that everyone decides that his books need to be rewritten in order to avoid causing offence. I understand that times change and what was once acceptable may no longer be the case. But the changes that I've come across seem absolutely pointless. So we can't say 'ugly' but we can say 'beastly.' To be honest, I think beastly sounds worse!
Me and my husband are eighties children so we of course grew up not only reading Roald Dahl books but also had them read to us at school by the teacher during storytime. Our kids have also read them. I think for the most part it's a big fuss over nothing.
I understand that both versions will be available in bookshops, Roald's original version as well as the rewrite. But I just feel that there are more important things going on in the world rather than a few words in a children's book.
What does everyone else say about this?
I've had this discussion to death with one of my best friends. Not a debate, a discussion as she totally agrees with me.
Please leave the books of our childhood alone! We read them and we turned out fine. Thank you!
Dahl's work ought to be left alone. The changes they have made are seemingly so trivial anyway that I think why bother! This is a topic that's quite close to my heart, as I come from a very artistic, creative family where we make a living from our various crafts. We're very proud of the work that we do and as any artistic will know, we put a lot of ourselves in our work which is why it means so much to us and why unfair criticism is often taken personally. If during our lifetime or afterwards, someone comes along and amends our work because it doesn't seem appropriate for some reason, to say I'd be more than a little annoyed would be an understatement. While I understand that things, times, and people change, and I understand that children's material must be appropriate them, But I don't agree with going against the artist's wishes and amending their work whether it be a piece of music, a sculture, a book, etc. Our creations are an expression of who we are, and we've created our work the way that it is for a reason and we want it left as is.
It's Shakespeare now! I understand that times change and what was acceptable once, isn't any more. But these books and plays and things were written at a time when things were they way that they were. I think most of us with intelligence can understand that. If we start editing everything, weher do we draw the line?
It's sad that people feel everything needs to be changed. Like a lot of people, I grew up with these children's books. There was never a problem then although I suppose people would say that we didn't know any better then - like we were complete idiots! I've seen some of the changes that have been made and quite frankly I don't know why they bothered! In fact I'm wondering if a lot of this is just a big publicity stunt. Roald Dahl books, along with the works of Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter, and A.A. Milne are a big part of British heritage but I fear that at the rate things are going, it won't last for long.