Roald Dahl’s wonderful books! Leave them alone!

There’s been quite a backlash to Puffin Books decision to change many of Roald Dahl’s words and phrases in his wonderful books! And quite rightly so! I was incensed when I read of the company’s decision! I mean..I ask you!

The whole idea of changing an author’s words and phrases is nonsensical! Such changes alter the whole idea of a character and change any images that the reader has built in his or her mind….and in Roald Dahl’s case, very strong images! Not watered down, magnolia, washy washy images! Oh no! You can’t grab the reader’s attention with weak, half hearted, insipid and namby pamby language! Roald Dahl’s books are an escape into the wacky, the loony and the absolute bonkers! Thus the language used has to fit with this agenda!

That was the beauty of Dahl; he was a wonderful wordsmith! Not only that, he knew his ‘audience’; he knew his readers and that readership not changed ( in spite of those in the woke brigade who would dearly love it to be otherwise!) 

Puffin Books has committed a huge crime against literature! It ought to hang its head in shame! No common sense was applied by the company. It could easily have stated that it was going to publish an alternative version of these books, for those who preferred the less gruesome descriptions etc. It could’ve even said that it was going to trial this. 

As it is, it’s made itself look exceedingly stupid! Or in the words of Roald Dahl, ‘loony’!

Thankfully, the people have spoken and made it quite clear that everything woke is also ‘loony’! And I’d love to see just how many people really do purchase the dull, vapid and bland versions, over the next year!