The writer’s children’s books Roald Dahlauthor of the emblematic ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory‘ either ‘Matilda‘, They have modified some paragraphs “for the enjoyment of all minors”, according to the English publisher Puffin Books. However, the Alfaguara publishing house, which has the Spanish-speaking rights, has stated that will keep your edits “as is”.

This has been assured by sources from the publisher to Europa Press. “After conversations with the Roald Dahl Society Company, Alfaguara Infantil y Juvenil will keep its editions with the classic texts of the author without modifying their publications in Spanish”, they have indicated.

The Santillana publishing house, with more than 40 years publishing the writer’s books, has also transmitted to the British agents that they will not adapt the books to continue enjoying “good children’s and youth literature.”

“We have always defended children’s and youth literature, and published books without attending to any type of censorship, regardless of the fashions and circumstances of the moment. The job of editor is understood from respect for readers and authors, and from honesty with the stories that they entrust to us and we decide to publish,” they said in a statement posted on their Twitter profile.

The British author, who died in 1990, is also the author of works such as ‘The witches‘ either ‘fantastic mr fox‘. Some phrases in these books have been modified by making references to the gender, appearance and weight of the characters.

Rishi Sunak, against the changes

For example, as highlighted by the British media The Telegraph, in the new edition of ‘Charlie and the chocolate factory’ Augustus Gloop is no longer named as “enormously fat”, but simply “huge”. Similarly, in ‘The witches‘, one of them now can be a “high level scientist or running a business”.

In addition, the words ‘crazy’ and ‘unhinged’ have also been removed as a result of an emphasis on mental health. As is the case in Spain, French and Dutch publishers will also keep the original versions because their stories “lose their power” if the language is changed and it is a matter that “only concerns Great Britain”, reports The Telegraph.

This decision has aroused some criticism, for example, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunakhas defended through a spokesperson that works must be “preserved and not touched up”, according to the BBC. “When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the big good-natured giant BFG that we shouldn’t gobblefunk with words,” he said.

Likewise, the writer Salman Rushdie tweeted that “Roald Dahl was not an angel, but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed.”