However, the Roald Dahl Story Company said the language review began in 2020 before the Netflix acquisition.Ī spokesperson for the Roald Dahl Story Company said: “We want to ensure that Roald Dahl’s wonderful stories and characters continue to be enjoyed by all children today.” The streaming giant is planning new adaptations of the works.Ī recent apology for Dahl’s antisemitism by his estate was seen by some as an attempt to pave the way for a lucrative reinvention of the author’s works.

Netflix bought outright control of the books from the Dahl estate in a $500m deal in 2021. Whilst trying to avoid the predictable and not unnecessary debate over editing Roald Dahl’s work, I find it harder to overlook a man who said these things: /ypGloZRRTD- Jonny Geller FebruIs there a commercial motive behind the changes? Publishers regularly employ “sensitivity readers” to work with contemporary authors to avoid culturally insensitive references.ĭahl’s stories are more problematic than most – James and the Giant Peach has been lambasted for its racism, profanity and sexual innuendo. They worked with Puffin and Inclusive Minds, a collective for people working towards inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature. The Roald Dahl Story Company claim their review process has been ongoing since 2020 and any edits are “small and carefully considered”.

We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.” Why have the books been changed? The official added: “I think it’s important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed. 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.” Just wait until these ‘sensitivity readers’ get to AA Milne, Beatrix Potter, CS Lewis, Enid Blyton, JRR Tolkien, JM Barrie, Lewis Carroll… ‘Let me have men about me that are fat.’ (Julius Caesar Iii).

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