The Queen Consort has appeared to weigh in on the controversy surrounding censorship of beloved kids’s writer Roald Dahl’s books, urging a roomful of authors to “remain true” to their calling.
As debate swirled across the current modifying throughout reprinting of Dahl’s books, Camilla reportedly spoke to a roomful of writers for a reception selling her e book membership at her London house, Clarence House.
“Please remain true to your calling, unimpeded by those who may wish to curb the freedom of your expression or impose limits on your imagination,” she mentioned.
According to The Australian, she then appeared up and smiled, including: “Enough said,” which attracted cheers of “hear, hear.”
Among these current on the occasion had been acclaimed British novelists Philippa Gregory, Charlie Mackesy and William Boyd.
During her speech, The Australian stories, the Queen then quoted Nobel Prize literary winner John Steinbeck, saying: “But let there be no squeaking like mice about your achievements, but only roaring like a pride of lions.”
Earlier this week, it was revealed that detrimental references to characters’ appearances had been being edited or wiped solely from Dahl’s hottest tales, together with Matilda, The BFG and The Witches.
The modifications got here after Puffin – the writer behind his traditional works – employed sensitivity readers to make sure modifications to Dahl’s wording within the UK editions as a part of an effort to make sure the books “can continue to be enjoyed by all today”.
According to the UK’s Telegraph, the chubby character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Augustus Gloop, is now described as “enormous”, whereas Mr. Twit from The Twits is now simply “beastly” as a substitute of “ugly and beastly”.
The paragraph in The Witches referencing that witches being bald beneath their wings had had a further line added, which reads: “There are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that”.
Meanwhile, in Matilda, the terrifying Mrs. Trunchbull is now not described as having a “great horsey face”, with the textual content now merely referencing her “face”.
The modifications have been met with a fierce backlash, with critics accusing the publishing home of censorship.
In a press release to The Independent, the Roald Dahl Story Company mentioned: “We want to ensure that Roald Dahl’s wonderful stories and characters continue to be enjoyed by all children today.
“When publishing new print runs of books written years ago, it’s not unusual to review the language used, alongside updating other details including a book’s cover and page layout.”
Source: www.news.com.au
