New editions of the works of the bestselling children’s author Road Dahl caused an international outcry last week when it emerged that the publisher Puffin had made hundreds of changes to reflect modern views on language. Puffin later said it would continue to print the originals in a ‘classic collection’, but the announcement was not enough to contain the debate they had started.
The Guardian books writer Lucy Knight tells Hannah Moore about the process for updating books in this way, and how sensitivity readers have become routine in publishing.
And the author and comedian David Baddiel describes his own problems with Dahl, a man who held deeply antisemitic views during his life. But he also highlights what he says is the importance of separating the art from the artist. He argues that Dahl’s works should not be sacrosanct, but those who seek to update them should prove they understand their sense of fun and naughtiness.
Photograph: Ben Molyneux/Alamy
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