Here’s Why Roald Dahl’s Books Are Getting An Extreme Woke Makeover

These days, it’s rare for the Left and Right to agree on anything.

Yet news that author Roald Dahl’s books are getting an extreme woke makeover did the trick … to a point.

Together with the publisher who published the works of the late author, The Dahl Estate agreed to improve the master’s work to make it more inclusive and less triggering.

This British writer is the author of many beloved books, some which have been made into famous films like “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” “James and the Giant Peach.”

Dahl’s altered language is laughable, there is no doubt. Piers Morgan, a British pundit whose ideology can be hard to pin down, is Piers Morgan. gives some chilling examples The new “improved” Dahl passages.

Dahl’s 1983 novel “The Witches,” A young boy grows up in a world controlled by witches. There have been 59 modifications.

The word “chambermaid” It is “cleaner,” “great flock of ladies” It has been changed to “great group of ladies,” “You must be mad, woman!” It is now “You must be out of your mind!” “the old hag” It has been modified to “the old crow.”

Even “foul bald-headed females” To “foul females” Despite the fact that the witches in the book are all bald.

Take a look at the image.

The usual suspects – conservatives – are outraged at the woke censorship. While the Right stands united against modern-day censorship while the Left cheers it on, many on both sides of the aisle are supportive.

Conservatives are in good company this time around.

Salman Rushdie was a literary titan who literally gave his life to defend free speech. He slammed revisionist editing. Rushdie, who survived the attack. An attack brutal last year resulting in him losing sight in one eye, and chronic nerve damage. He was called the move “absurd censorship.”

Roald Dahl is not an angel, but this is absurdcensorship. Puffin Books, the Dahl estate, and all of their censorship should be shamed. https://t.co/sdjMfBr7WW

— Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) February 18, 2023

Here’s where things get interesting.

The far-Left Nation similarly decried the censorship.

The beloved author’s books are being edited by their publisher to suit contemporary sensibilities. That robs us of the author’s vision—and any sense of history.

The culprits behind the changes refuse to comment on the matter. 

Puffin and The Roald Dahl Story Company, which manages the copyrights of Dahl’s books and works with publishers, didn’t respond to NPR’s requests for comment.

That cowardice is common for modern censors. They can’t defend their actions.

The bigger question remains. Why is anyone surprised?

Sensitivity readers are now an entrenched part of the literary world. Works in other media have been censored or removed entirely, from sitcoms with blackface moments to films like “Song of the South” and “I Love You, Daddy.” At best, challenging art now arrives with “warning labels” to make sure we don’t fall under their deep, dark spell.

And, when the woke mob erased some of Dr. Seuss’s canon two years ago, western culture collectively yawned. Some, like the execrable Stephen Colbert, actually cheered the move.

Didn’t anyone think censorship would get better in this environment?

It may be encouraging that Dahl’s book sales are spiking at the moment, with consumers eager to snatch up his work before the Thought Police has its way with it. That doesn’t change the fact that Puffin Books will produce watered-down versions of Dahl’s work moving forward.

And, for many, those stories will be the official Dahl language.

The woke revolution is getting so strong, so unavoidable that others on the Left are starting to sound the alarm. The film festival circuit is feeling the censorial heat, drawing concern from the typically liberal Variety.

The New York Times recently published a vigorous op-ed from former Book Editor Pamela Paul calling out woke’s nefarious impact on the literary world.

The only thing surprising about the Dahl extreme makeover is that it didn’t happen already. Or that anyone thinks it will stop here.

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