If you go down to a book shop today and buy a Roald DahlA 20th Century British novelist and children's writer. His books have sold more than 250 million copies. book, you will find a small notice in the front. It says: "This book was written many years ago, and so we regularly review the language to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all today."

This is the only indication that you are reading a very different book from the original. Hundreds of changes have been made to Dahl's works by their publisher, Puffin Books.¹

Women characters who were supermarket cashiers and secretaries are now top scientists and businesspeople. All references to weight have been stripped out. So too have the words "black" and "white" - even when they do not relate to skin colour.

In fact, this is not the first time Dahl's work has been edited. In the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, published in 1964, the Oompa LoompasThe workers at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, in the novel by Roald Dahl. were described as Black Africans. 

Critics said an all-Black workforce paid solely in cacao beansThe raw, unroasted bean from the cacao tree. They are used to make chocolate. had overtones of slavery.² Dahl listened and rewrote the characters to have White skin in the 1973 edition of the book.

But critics say this is different. It is one thing, they claim, for an author to edit their own text, but quite another for others to rewrite it for them.

They think the editors have committed the worst literary crime of all: they have made the books bland. Everything that might capture the attention of a reader has been stripped out in favour of a corporate monotoneA continuing sound, especially someone's voice, that never has a change in pitch or tone. .

But others say it is right for literature to be inclusive. They point out that it is hard for readers to enjoy books that make fun of people like them.

Moreover, psychologists tell us young children's minds soak up influences like sponges. Reading books that mock certain groups could lead them to do the same themselves. So editing Dahl's works, some say, could save children a lot of bullying.

Still others think this is all missing the point. They say Puffin is not making these edits because it is worried about causing offence. It only cares about profits.

The original texts will be much less popular if children feel they are victimising them or their friends. Puffin, they say, is simply appealing to their target audience.

Yes: Girls, children from ethnic minority backgrounds, and children who are overweight should not be the victims of literary purismInsisting on observing original language, traditions or rules. . If they mean children grow up with better values, these rewrites are a good thing.

No: Children are smarter than we are giving them credit for. They know right from wrong. They deserve the chance to read the original books.

Or... This is not a question of right or wrong; it is a question of profit. Puffin decided the old texts would not appeal to modern audiences. If it turns out to be wrong, the market will punish it.