Roald Dahl’s censored books will be joined by the original versions

The reception to the news that many of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s books would be altered amid cancel culture was far from scrumdiddlyumptious. Now, the publisher has announced that due to backlash over the controversy, titles like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda” will also be on shelves in their intended forms.

“We’ve listened to the debate over the past week, which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation,” said a key figure at Penguin Random House. “As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care…We also recognize the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print.” In short, they will be releasing both the original versions and the altered ones. So whether you can handle the word “fat” or not, there will be a print of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” just for you! But no, you’re not going to get the OG Oompa-Loompas, not now and not in the upcoming prequel.

Puffin Books–a children’s imprint of Penguin–initially defended their choice of altering Roald Dahl’s books. “The wonderful words of Roald Dahl can transport you to different worlds and introduce you to the most marvellous characters. This book was written many years ago, and so we regularly review the language to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all today.” The books had little surprises around every corner to be sure, but apparently Puffin thought them to be dangerous.

The original books will be available through the Roald Dahl Classics Collection. Even this seems like a slap (or should we say “light tap from the palm”?) to the author’s legacy. Shouldn’t the books as they were written only be known by their titles? And shouldn’t the altered versions be part of something like the Roald Dahl Edited to Appease Readers That Wouldn’t Have Been Offended by the Word “Maniac” Collection?

How do you feel about two separate versions of Roald Dahl’s books being available? Is it a reasonable compromise or should they only be available in their most original form? Let us know your take in the comments section below.