Lemony Snicket author slams attempts to censor ‘offensive’ Roald Dahl books as he insists children should read about ‘wretched things’

Bestselling author Daniel Handler says children should read about “sad” things and not be protected from “offensive” words.

The Lemony Snicket author has criticised publishers for rewriting Roald Dahl’s books to make them more “inclusive” by removing words like “fat”.

The 54-year-old said he understands the “urge” to remove offensive language, but condemned the “tinkering” with the work of the BFG and Witches author.

The author of A Series of Unfortunate Events called Dahl’s work “offensive”—and called it that.

Dahl, who sold 300 million copies of his work, wrote children’s classics such as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Twits.

Children should read about ‘sad’ things and not be protected from ‘offensive’ words, says bestselling author Daniel Handler (pictured)

The Lemony Snicket author has criticized publishers who rewrote Roald Dahl's books to make them more

The Lemony Snicket author has criticized publishers who rewrote Roald Dahl’s books to make them more “inclusive” by removing words like “fat.” Pictured: Jim Carrey as Count Olaf in the 2004 film of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

Anjelica Huston as Miss Eva Ernst, the Grand High Witch, in a scene from the 1990 film based on Roald Dahl's children's classic The Witches

Puffin Books faced a huge backlash and was forced to make an about-face after announcing more than 50 changes to Roald Dahl's 1983 children's novel The Witches last year

Anjelica Huston (left) as Miss Eva Ernst, the Grand High Witch, in a scene from the 1990 film based on the children’s classic The Witches by Roald Dahl (right)

In February last year, it was revealed that Puffin Books had rewritten a number of texts to remove language that modern readers might find offensive in the areas of race, gender, weight and mental health.

It was forced to make an about-face after announcing more than 50 changes to Roald Dahl’s 1983 children’s novel The Witches last year

These changes mean that characters are no longer described as ‘fat’ and references to ‘mothers’ and ‘fathers’ have been replaced with references to ‘parents’ or ‘family’.

When asked on the Private Passions podcast if he supported rewriting Dahl’s work, Handler said, “Well, I was against it. I mean, I understand that urge.

Dahl (pictured), who sold 300 million copies of his work, wrote children's classics such as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Twits

Dahl (pictured), who sold 300 million copies of his work, wrote children’s classics such as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Twits

‘You know, when you’re with a kid and there’s a strange noise in the middle of the night, you kind of want to say that nothing’s wrong.

“If they see something in a news story, I understand that you want to be protectionist.”

He continued: ‘That simply cannot be done, and it certainly cannot be done by manipulating Roald Dahl to the point where his words are no longer offensive.

“His words are insulting. I mean, he was an insulting person in some ways, and his stories are full of really, really miserable things.

“That’s a wonderful way to learn about miserable things.”

How Editors Tried to Change Roald Dahl’s Stories

THE WITCHES

Original – ‘Don’t be a fool,’ my grandmother said. ‘You can’t pull the hair of every lady you meet, even if she’s wearing gloves. Just try it and see what happens.’

2023 – “Don’t be silly,” my grandmother said. “Besides, there are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.”

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

2001 – Mrs. Salt was a big fat creature with short legs, and she hissed like a rhinoceros

2022 – Mrs. Salt was so out of breath she blew like a rhinoceros

THE SCARE

2001 – Mrs. Twit may have been ugly and she may have been beastly, but she wasn’t stupid

2022 – Mrs. Twit may have been beastly, but she wasn’t stupid.

MATILDA

2001 – Get your mother or father

2022 – Get your family

THE GVR

2001 – “BFG,” she said, “will you please tell these rather dimwitted characters exactly what to do?”

2022 – “BFG,” she said, “will you please tell them exactly what to do?”

THE HUGE CROCODILE

2001 – We eat little boys and girls

2022 – We eat little children

ESIO DRAF

2001 – ‘I beg you to tell me, Mr. Hoppy! I will be your slave for life.’

2022 – ‘I’m begging you to tell me, Mr. Hoppy! You’ll be my hero for life.’

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

2001 – Bunce, the little dwarf with the big belly, looked up at Bean…

2022 – Bunce looked up to Bean…

JAMES AND THE BIG PEACH

2001 – They looked like a bunch of hunters who had just shot an elephant

2022 – They were like a couple of hunters who had just shot their prey