Judy Blume Says Roald Dahl’s Books Should not Be Rewritten

For those who assume censoring books like Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing unit and James and the Large Peach is weird, you’ll be able to relaxation simple figuring out one of the widely-banned writers in American historical past agrees with you. In a current interview for Selection, younger grownup creator Judy Blume spoke in regards to the current controversy surrounding Puffin Books and their option to “replace” some beloved novels by Roald Dahl.

“What do I take into consideration rewriting the Roald Dahl books?” the Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret creator mentioned. “I believe if Roald Dahl was round, you’ll be listening to what he thinks about that. No matter he’s, no matter he’s accused of being, there’s plenty of fact there. However the books are the books. Children nonetheless love the books, and so they love them the way in which he wrote them. So I don’t imagine in that.”

Sure features of Dahl’s work haven’t aged effectively — the creator has been topic to retrospective criticisms of sexism, racism, and antisemitism — however Blume stands by the significance of maintaining basic literature in its unique type. And as somebody whose personal work has been ostracized for depictions of wholesome teenage sexuality, together with menstruation, Blume worries in regards to the slippery slope impact that would happen from retroactive censorship.

“In the present day, there are legal guidelines being enacted the place a librarian can go to jail if he or she is discovered responsible of getting pornography on their cabinets… Attempt to outline pornography as we speak and also you’ll discover that it’s all the pieces,” Blume added, mentioning that image books Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love and Heather Has Two Mommies Lesléa Newman had been incessantly banned, and regarded “pornographic” by some legislatures.

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However whilst they return to Dahl’s work, Puffin’s revisions appear relatively inconsequential: In Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing unit, for instance, Augustus Gloop is now described as “monumental” as a substitute of “fats.” In The Twits, Mrs. Twit is now not depicted as “ugly and beastly,” however simply “beastly.” Oompa Loompas are usually not “small males” anymore, however “small individuals.” And when the narrator of The Witches discusses how the feminine villains put on wigs to cowl their bald heads, his grandmother responds: “There are many different explanation why girls may put on wigs and there’s definitely nothing mistaken with that.”

Blume’s profession and legacy might be celebrated in Prime Video’s upcoming documentary Judy Blume Without end.