LONDON – Publisher Penguin Random House announced Friday that it will publish “classic” unabridged editions of Roald Dahl’s children’s novels after it received criticism for cuts and rewrites aimed at making the books suitable for modern readers. Was.

Along with the new editions, the company said that 17 of Dahl’s books would be published in their original form as “The Roald Dahl Classic Collection” later this year, so “readers can choose which version of Dahl’s stories they prefer.” shall be free to choose.”

The move comes after criticism of changes made to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and other well-known classics, including passages related to weight, mental health, gender and race, to recent editions published under the company’s Puffin Children label. were given.

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Augustus Glop, Charlie’s gourmand antagonist in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” – originally published in 1964 – became “gigantic” rather than “excessively fat”. In “Witches”, a supernatural woman posing as an ordinary woman may be a “top scientist or running a business” rather than “a cashier at a supermarket or typing letters for a businessman”.

The Roald Dahl Story Company, which controls the rights to the books, said that it had worked with Puffin to review and revise the texts because it wanted to “make sure that Dahl’s wonderful stories and characters are still alive today”. To be enjoyed by all children.”

While the alteration of older books to modern sensibilities is not a new phenomenon in publishing, the scale of the editing drew strong criticism from free-speech groups such as the writers’ organization PEN America and from writers including Salman Rushdie.

Camilla, the Queen, was seen presenting her views at a literary reception on Thursday. She urged writers to “stay true to your calling, regardless of those who seek to curtail your freedom of expression or impose limits on your imagination.”

Dahl’s books, with their mischievous children, strange animals and often cruel adults, have sold over 300 million copies and are read by children around the world. His many stage and screen adaptations include “Matilda the Musical” based on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and two “Willy Wonka” films, with a third in the works.

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But Dahl, who died in 1990, is also a controversial figure because of the antisemitic comments he made throughout his life. His family apologized in 2020.

In 2021, Dahl’s estate sold the rights to the books to Netflix, which plans to produce a new generation of films based on the stories.

Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s, said the publisher had “heard arguments last week that reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and very real questions about how to keep stories from another era relevant.” Could. Each new generation.”

“Roald Dahl’s great books are often the first stories young children will read independently, and taking care of young readers’ imaginations and rapidly developing minds is both a privilege and a responsibility,” she said.

“We also recognize the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print,” Dow said.

“By making both Puffin and Penguin editions available, we’re giving readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, wonderful stories.”

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