Roald Dahl's Books Being Altered

[Pickman's model]

I thought that LRB article was pretty reasonable and fair-handed? It's not exactly a one-sided hatchet job.
Here's Burrow on Dahl's writing:

And the conclusion:

Basically just saying he was someone who was often a shit in his personal life, which seems to be undisputed, and that his work was complicated and informed by grief and trauma while still being entertaining and accessible for children?

yeh but you actually read the article

 

[hitmouse]

yeh but you actually read the article

Saw this today, think it's sadly going to be an evergreen cartoon:

 

[hitmouse]

I did think "He knew himself well enough to keep hidden the things that he needed to keep hidden in order to make fiction" was a really lovely line, fwiw.

 

[Diamond]

I think the interesting point here is the principle that is being established (or perhaps re-established).

If it is good for you to reform the content of books to reflect your political positions, then it must be good for anyone to do the same.

So, you can hardly complain when the wind changes and in a few years time publishers seek to re-edit your favourite texts to reflect, perhaps, a new right-wing consensus.

 

[Artaxerxes]

I think the interesting point here is the principle that is being established (or perhaps re-established).

If it is good for you to reform the content of books to reflect your political positions, then it must be good for anyone to do the same.

So, you can hardly complain when the wind changes and in a few years time publishers seek to re-edit your favourite texts to reflect, perhaps, a new right-wing consensus.

It’s never been unestablished. Guess how many interpretations of the Bible have occurred since it was first written. How many Homers.

 

[A380]

And that's been news to almost no-one for decades. ETA Dahl being a shit, I mean.

But aren’t nearly all ‘great’ artists flawed and often unpleasant people?

 

[belboid]

It’s never been unestablished. Guess how many interpretations of the Bible have occurred since it was first written. How many Homers.

Loads of different Shakespeares too. But don't bother bringing facts into this, please.

 

[Pickman's model]

But aren’t nearly all ‘great’ artists flawed and often unpleasant people?

if that's the case then diamond must be a great artist

 

[Diamond]

One thing that will be interesting to see is whether there is an attempt to prohibit the circulation of the offending editions.

 

[A380]

It’s never been unestablished. Guess how many interpretations of the Bible have occurred since it was first written. How many Homers.

 

[hitmouse]

I don't think that "you", as in anyone on urban, has done anything, unless anyone posting on this thread has any undeclared connection to Puffin Books? I think that all that's happening is that a publisher and the author's estate are making decisions about what they think will sell, which is not really something we have any input into?

But aren’t nearly all ‘great’ artists flawed and often unpleasant people?

Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever met a flawless person who was consistently pleasant in all situations?

 

[A380]

One thing that will be interesting to see is whether there is an attempt to prohibit the circulation of the offending editions.

It won’t be at all interesting because there won’t be such an attempt.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

How many Homers.

31 seasons now I think.

 

[A380]

… Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever met a flawless person who was consistently pleasant in all situations?

Under Waterloo Station clock 1600. I’ll be wearing a carnation and carrying the complete works of Jacqueline Wilson.

 

[belboid]

Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever met a flawless person who was consistently pleasant in all situations?

I am, you piece of fucking shit!!

 

[Diamond]

It won’t be at all interesting because there won’t be such an attempt.

Hmm...I wouldn't be so sure..

 

[A380]

31 seasons now I think.

I was first and had a picture…

 

[A380]

Hmm...I wouldn't be so sure..

I would be.

 

[Artaxerxes]

That Homer hasn't been funny for 20 years so pleae rewrite him or let him die

 

[hitmouse]

I would be.

Easy for you to say now, but what if we all end up in prison for possessing unauthorised copies of The Twits? Who'll be laughing then, eh?

 

[bellaozzydog]

Nobody asked for it, nobody actually gives a shit on the left and this is just more culture war pearl clutching from the right and a an estate with full copyright and control of the works trying to make sure they can still sell the books of a horrible man but great storyteller and earn money

This

 

[Diamond]

Just as a quick comment on the content of the Dahl stuff - I do remember when reading it (or listening - the audio books were v good) as a kid and thinking that his world was a really very nasty one indeed. The thing is, that's a pretty good approximation of the real world - adults really are, on the whole, self-centred shits out mainly for themselves, as in his stuff. Useful lessons.

 

[Riklet]

TBH aren't these edits financially driven, to keep the books earning money in a more critical world, when otherwise they might be quietly left to die in Oxfam?

Quietly left to die? they're still some of the best if not the best childrens books. They should be celebrating Dahl's mean language.

Phil Pullman's a good teen writer but his books aren't really for kids. And they dont capture any naughtiness or sparkle or imagination or meanness or injustice in the same way that Dahl does. He sounds like a real bitter cunt saying that people should stop reading Roald Dahl frankly!

Let's be honest Roald Dahl was maybe not a saint and had possibly antisemitic views. But does a story where someone gets called fat and ugly really belong to the dustbins of the past?

 

[8ball]

I hope the Ooma Loompas are now unionised.

 

[Indeliblelink]

HAN SHOT FIRST

 

[A380]

Easy for you to say now, but what if we all end up in prison for possessing unauthorised copies of The Twits? Who'll be laughing then, eh?

Me; because I’ll have a copy of the Twits and it does have a few good gags.

 

[Pickman's model]

HAN SHOT FIRST

they drew first blood

 

[bluescreen]

Quietly left to die? they're still some of the best if not the best childrens books. They should be celebrating Dahl's mean language.

Phil Pullman's a good teen writer but his books aren't really for kids. And they dont capture any naughtiness or sparkle or imagination or meanness or injustice in the same way that Dahl does. He sounds like a real bitter cunt saying that people should stop reading Roald Dahl frankly!

Let's be honest Roald Dahl was maybe not a saint and had possibly antisemitic views. But does a story where someone gets called fat and ugly really belong to the dustbins of the past?

Kids like them precisely because of the naughtiness, I suspect. But it's adults who buy the books and control what kids read.

When I was a kid a well-meaning neighbour gave us a load of Enid Blytons. My mother didn't approve and hid them on top of her wardrobe but I found them and sneaked them to read. Pretty sure the taboo added something.

 

[Diamond]

It's interesting to speculate on what other writers might be at risk. I've often wondered about JG Ballard, for instance. Controversial in his day, and people often say that the modern world is Ballardian, but I could certainly see some enterprising young philistine trying to do a number on him.

 

[Pickman's model]

It's interesting to speculate on what other writers might be at risk. I've often wondered about JG Ballard, for instance. Controversial in his day, and people often say that the modern world is Ballardian, but I could certainly see some enterprising young philistine trying to do a number on him.

do you think many children read j.g. ballard?