Van de Leur has been in contact with publisher Puffin, which publishes the English-language books. Puffin announced earlier this week that it would adjust certain ‘offensive’ terms and sentences or provide additional explanations.
“We have been in contact with Puffin and the adjustments are initially only intended for the English-speaking market,” says Van de Leur. “Puffin will extensively evaluate how the adjustments are going and then talk to the dozens of other licensees.”
Not yet final
It is therefore not certain that the Dutch books will not be modified. But Van de Leur cannot say when a final decision will be made on this.
British publisher Puffin has changed hundreds of passages so that “everyone can enjoy” Roald Dahl’s work. For example, Augustus Gloop, a character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is no longer ‘fat’ but ‘huge’, the Oompa Loompas in the same book are gender neutral and in The Twits the female protagonist is no longer described as ‘ugly’.
