“Words matter,” begins the discreet notice, which sits at the bottom of the copyright page of Puffin’s latest editions of Roald Dahl’s books. “The wonderful words of Roald Dahl can transport you to different worlds and introduce you to the most marvellous characters. This book was written many years ago, and so we regularly review the language to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all today.”
Put simply: these may not be the words Dahl wrote. The publishers have given themselves licence to edit the writer as they see fit, chopping, altering and adding where necessary to bring his books in line with contemporary sensibilities. By comparing the latest editions with earlier versions of the texts, The Telegraph has found hundreds of changes to Dahl’s stories.
Language related to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race has been cut and rewritten. Remember the Cloud-Men in James and the Giant Peach? They are now the Cloud-People. The Small Foxes in Fantastic Mr Fox are now female. In Matilda, a mention of Rudyard Kipling has been cut and Jane Austen added. It’s Roald Dahl, but different.
Dahl, who died in 1990, is one of the most successful children’s authors of all time. Born in Cardiff in 1916 to Norwegian parents, he was an ace fighter pilot during the Second World War before turning his hand to writing. More than 250 million copies of his books, which include novels such as The Witches, The Twits and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as his memoirs Boy and Going Solo, have been sold worldwide. His stories are characterised by dark humour and unexpected twists.
This is not the first time that his work has been controversial. The Oompa-Loompas, the diminutive employees of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, have been extensively reimagined over the years. In recent years Dahl has been criticised for anti-Semitism, misogyny and racism.
The modern editor of Dahl faces a dilemma: how to retain Dahl’s compelling spikiness, which has enthralled generations of readers, while bringing it in line with the hair-trigger sensitivities of children’s publishing.
Puffin’s overhaul is the result. While there have been tweaks before, there has never been an alteration on this scale. Take The Witches, for example, Dahl’s memorably unpleasant 1983 novel about a young boy growing up in a world ruled by a coven of secretive witches. A 2001 version of the text includes the following passage, about yanking women’s hair to check if they are witches. (In the story, witches are bald, and wear gloves to disguise their claws.)
Unsurprisingly given The Witches’ subject matter, many of the edits are to do with depictions of women. “Chambermaid” becomes “cleaner”. “Great flock of ladies” becomes “great group of ladies”. “You must be mad, woman!” becomes “You must be out of your mind!” “The old hag” becomes “the old crow”.
“A witch is always a woman”, went the 2001 version of the book. “I do not wish to speak badly about women. Most women are lovely. But the fact remains that all witches are women. There is no such thing as a male witch.” That became, simply, “A witch is always a woman. There is no such thing as a male witch.”
These edits mute the original sense. Elsewhere, changes give a new meaning, like the below:
The Witches doing their bit for women in STEM.
Other alterations are about weight. “Fat little brown mouse” becomes “little brown mouse”. “‘Here’s your little boy,’ she said. ‘He needs to go on a diet’”, becomes “Here’s your little boy.”
In the earlier version, the narrator exclaims: “‘But what about the rest of the world?’ I cried. ‘What about ‘America and France and Holland and Germany? And what about Norway?’”. Now the sentence about America and France and Holland and Germany has been cut. The ‘rest of the world’ is evidently bigger now than it was.
This is only a sample of 59 changes found in The Witches, and it’s only one of Dahl’s books. Across the new editions, there are hundreds of edits, some bigger than others.
In Matilda, a passage where the heroine is learning about the escapist power of literature has changed:
Elsewhere, Miss Trunchbull’s “great horsey face” becomes simply her “face”. “Eight nutty little idiots” become “eight nutty little boys”.
Rather than “turning white,” a character turns “quite pale”, and in another example:
In James and the Giant Peach, the Cloud-Men have become Cloud-People, Miss Sponge is no longer “the fat one”, Miss Spider’s head is no longer “black” and the Earthworm no longer has “lovely pink” skin but “lovely smooth skin”. In The Twits, a “weird African language” is no longer weird, while Mrs Twit is no longer ugly and beastly but simply beastly. In the new version of George’s Marvellous Medicine, George’s exclamation changes to:
In Fantastic Mr Fox a description of tractors, saying that “the machines were both black”, has been cut. In the new Dahl world, it seems, neither machines nor animals can be described with a colour. Nor can anything be fat. “Bunce, the little pot-bellied dwarf”, is now plain old Bunce. The Small Foxes, previously sons, are now daughters, while Badger’s son has become a “little one”.
Even the harmless Esio Trot has not escaped. Tortoises no longer come “mostly from North Africa” but from “many different countries”. Perhaps more egregiously, given the story’s punning title: “Tortoises are very backward creatures. Therefore they can only understand words that are written backwards” has become simply: “They can only understand words that are written backwards”.
And so on. Hundreds of changes to some of the best-loved children’s books ever written. Even Quentin Blake’s illustrations do not make it through the sensitivity reading unscathed. Earlier editions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory include three sketches of Mike Teavee with 18 toy pistols “hanging from belts around his body”, but the guns have been scrubbed out by 2022, as well as a related sentence.
Language evolves. Few would defend retaining the “n-word” in contemporary publishing, or any number of other outdated racial slurs which bring the modern reader up short and do not add to the text. But where does sensible pruning give way to unnecessary tinkering?
“We want to ensure Roald Dahl’s wonderful stories and characters continue to be enjoyed by all children today,” said a spokesperson for the Roald Dahl Story Company. “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. Our guiding principle throughout has been to maintain the storylines, characters, and the irreverence and sharp-edged spirit of the original text. Any changes made have been small and carefully considered.”
The rewriting of Dahl is part of a general trend for “sensitivity readings”, where books are screened before publication for material that might be upsetting. The practice began in children’s books, where it remains most pronounced. Anthony Horowitz, the bestselling author, recently talked about falling foul of the censor over a Native American character attacking someone with a scalpel.
Hundreds of words and meanings have been changed in Roald Dahl’s best-loved books
“I made the changes, but I will confess they hurt,” Horowitz wrote in The Spectator. “It just feels wrong to be told what to write by an outside party, no matter how well-meaning.” Addressing the Hay Festival last year, Horowitz commented “children’s book publishers are more scared [of cancel culture] than anybody”.
Dahl has long been controversial. This is not the first time his books have changed to reflect contemporary mores, or around Hollywood interest. In the first edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964), the Oompa-Loompas were black pygmies, enslaved by Willy Wonka from “the deepest and darkest part of the African jungle” and paid in cocoa beans. Dahl rewrote the characters in the late 1960s to “de-Negro” them, in his words. For Mel Stuart’s 1971 film starring Gene Wilder, the Oompas became green-haired, orange-skinned figures. By a 1973 edition of the book, they had become “little fantasy creatures”.
But in recent years Dahl has become an increasingly divisive figure – not only accused of racism and misogyny, but anti-Semitism too. The latter was so apparent in his writing and private life that in 2020, the Dahl family issued an apology.
“The Dahl family and the Roald Dahl Story Company deeply apologise for the lasting and understandable hurt caused by some of Roald Dahl’s statements. Those prejudiced remarks are incomprehensible to us and stand in marked contrast to the man we knew and to the values at the heart of Roald Dahl’s stories, which have positively impacted young people for generations. We hope that, just as he did at his best, at his absolute worst, Roald Dahl can help remind us of the lasting impact of words.”
The Dahl estate owned the rights to the books until 2021, when Netflix bought them outright for a reported $686 million, building on an earlier rights deal. The American streaming service now has overall control over the book publishing, as well as various adaptation projects that are in the works. These are the first new editions since the deal, but the review began before the sale.
“The current review began in 2020, before Dahl was acquired by Netflix,” said a spokesperson for the Roald Dahl Story Company. “It was led by Puffin and Roald Dahl Story Company together.” (When approached for comment, Netflix directed The Telegraph back to Puffin.)
Puffin and the Roald Dahl Story Company made the latest changes in conjunction with Inclusive Minds, which its spokesperson describes as “a collective for people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature”. Organisations such as Inclusive Minds have sprung up to help publishers navigate these newly choppy waters.
The 2001 and 2022 editions of Roald Dahl’s books
Credit: Jamie Lorriman
Alexandra Strick, a co-founder of Inclusive Minds, says they “aim to ensure authentic representation, by working closely with the book world and with those who have lived experience of any facet of diversity”. To do this, they call on a team of “Inclusion Ambassadors” with a variety of “lived experience”. She says they mostly work with authors writing now, but are sometimes asked to work on older texts.
“Occasionally, publishers approach us to consult Inclusion Ambassadors when looking to reprint older titles,” says Strick. “While this is not the main focus for the Ambassadors – and we believe better authenticity is achieved through input at development stages – we do think those with lived experience can provide valuable input when it comes to reviewing language to help ensure that the stories can continue to be enjoyed by all children, so on occasions we work with publishers on classic texts.”
Some teachers argue it’s the children’s tastes that are changing. Scott Evans has been a primary school teacher for eight years and works at a school in South Wales, near Cardiff, where Dahl grew up. He runs a website, The Reader Teacher, and has worked as a sensitivity reader. “I understand the arguments some say about censorship and diminishing the author’s voice,” he says. “However, after recently re-reading some children’s books by Dahl, some language stood out as offensive while other terms have become outdated over time. Here, sensitivity readers can make suggested adaptations to make them more accessible to children.
“When you ask children and adults why they are drawn to Dahl’s books, it’s often the sense of rebellion within them that they mention,” he adds. “While maintaining this spirit in children’s books is essential and suppressing it entirely is not the answer either, it’s about making sure that the characters and content are mischievous, and not malicious, in their nature.”
The Oompa-Loompas may be the most famous example of Dahl’s earlier amendments, but they were not the only time he amended his writing. “It was clear towards the end of Dahl’s life, his editors worked really closely with him on shaping the stories,” says Kris Howard, founder of the Roald Dahl fan club roalddahlfans.com. “In some cases, they changed quite a lot. Fantastic Mr Fox is a great example: his first draft was more a glorification of thievery, one would argue, than the version that actually got published. I’m disappointed that [Dahl’s] books have been changed. But at the same time… Dahl did OK changes to his books in line with modern mores.
“Some of the descriptions [in the books] are a bit problematic with some of the characters,” she acknowledges. Nevertheless, “people have said that about characters in the Harry Potter novels”, and there is a way of contextualising Dahl’s work.
The Telegraph has discovered hundreds of changes from Roald Dahl’s stories
Credit: ITV/Shutterstock
Matthew Dennison, who wrote a biography of the author, Teller of the Unexpected, published last year, says Dahl was particular about the language he used. “Dahl typically worked seven days a week for a year on one of his full-length novels and was drained by the experience, which involved extensive rewriting as he worked, followed by a lively back-and-forth with his editor,” he says.
“The process of editing often focused on individual words or particular expressions, as Dahl kept faith with some of the interwar slang of his childhood, and aspects of his vocabulary up to his death continued to recall the enthusiasms of English prep schoolboys. This was both natural to him and deliberate, and he resisted interference.
“His relationships with his editors included marked fractiousness on Dahl’s part,” he adds. “Overruling proposed word changes made by the American editor of The Witches, Stephen Roxburgh, Dahl wrote, ‘I don’t approve of some of your Americanisms. This is an English book with an English flavour and so it should remain.’”
When it came to children’s books, Dennison says Dahl didn’t care what adults thought as long as his target readers were happy. “‘I don’t give a b—-r what grown-ups think,’ was a characteristic statement,” Dennison says. “And I’m almost certain that he would have recognised that alterations to his novels prompted by the political climate were driven by adults rather than children, and this always inspired derision, if not contempt, in Dahl.
“He never, for example, had any truck with librarians who criticised his books as too frightening, lacking moral role models, negative in their portrayal of women, etc,” he continues. “Dahl wrote stories intended to kindle in children a lifelong love of reading and to remind them of the childhood wonderlands of magic and enchantment, aims in which he succeeded triumphantly. Adult anxieties about political niceties didn’t register in this outlook. This said, although Dahl could be unabashed in offending adults, he took pains never to alienate or make unhappy his child readers.”
Dahl is only a prominent example of a growing trend in children’s publishing for content that nobody can find offensive. The latest editing sets Roald Dahl the brand, the property for which Netflix paid handsomely and which generates millions of pounds in revenue for Penguin Random House, Puffin’s parent company, against the words Roald Dahl put on the page. A cynic might say it is a way of protecting the golden goose. Words matter, especially on the bottom line.
When does harmless tweaking become over-meddling? How long before The Twits becomes The Twits of Theseus, unrecognisable from its original form? Which other children’s authors are in line for the big green pencil? The way publishing is going, the rewriting of Roald Dahl may only be the beginning.
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001ladies and gentlemen |
2022folks |
|
2001fearful ugliness |
2022ugliness |
|
2001Have you ever seen a woman with an uglier face than that? I doubt it. |
2022Have you ever seen anyone with an uglier face than that? I doubt it. |
|
2001You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth |
2022You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and stick-out teeth |
|
2001In her right hand she carried a walking stick. She used to tell people that this was because she had warts growing on her sole of her left foot and walking was painful. |
2022In her right hand she carried a walking stick. Not because she needed help walking. |
|
2001Oh do shut up, you old hag |
2022Oh do shut up, you old crow |
|
2001She lay there in the dark scratching her tummy. Her tummy was itching. Dirty old hags like her always have itchy tummies. |
2022She lay there in the dark scratching her tummy. Her tummy was always itchy. |
|
2001She was a prisoner |
2022She was stuck |
|
2001old hag |
2022old crow |
|
2001Mrs Twit may have been ugly and she may have been beastly, but she was not stupid. |
2022Mrs Twit may have been beastly, but she was not stupid. |
|
2001frumpet |
2022frump |
|
2001But these were English birds and they couldn’t understand the weird African language the monkeys spoke. |
2022But these were English birds and they couldn’t understand the African language the monkeys spoke. |
|
2001He’s dotty!’ They cried. ‘He’s balmy!’ ‘He’s batty!’ ‘He’s nutty!’ ‘He’s screwy!’ ‘He’s wacky!’ Cried the Roly-Poly Bird. ‘Poor old Muggles has gone off his wump at last!’ |
2022He’s dotty!’ They cried. ‘He’s wacky!’ Cried the Roly-Poly Bird. |
|
2001frumptious freaks |
2022beastly Twits |
|
2001ugly old cow |
2022ghastly old shrew |
|
2001fatty folds of his flabby neck |
2022folds of his neck |
| Back to top |
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001Even if she is working as a cashier in a supermarket or typing letters for a businessman |
2022Even if she is working as a top scientist or running a business |
|
2001I do not wish to speak badly about women. Most women are lovely |
2022Removed |
|
2001We could round them all up and put them in the meat-grinder |
2022Removed |
|
2001There was something indecent about a bald woman |
2022Removed |
|
2001“How horrid!” “Disgusting,” my grandmother said |
2022Removed |
|
2001You can’t go round pulling the hair of every lady you meet, even if she is wearing gloves. Just you try it and see what happens |
2022Besides, there are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that |
|
2001When an actress wears a wig, or if you or I were to wear a wig, we would be putting it on over our own hair, but a witch has to put it straight on to her naked scalp |
2022Removed |
|
2001Witches have slightly larger nose-holes than ordinary people |
2022Witches have slightly larger nose-holes |
|
2001Queer |
2022Strange |
|
2001Perhaps he had been forced to jam her thumb down the spout of a boiling kettle until it was steamed away |
2022Removed |
|
2001The gums were like raw meat |
2022Removed |
|
2001Fat and jolly |
2022Jolly lady |
|
2001Chambermaid |
2022Cleaner |
|
2001Great flock of ladies |
2022Great group of ladies |
|
2001Adorable dress |
2022Lovely dress |
|
2001It nearly killed Ashton as well. Half the skin came away from his scalp |
2022It didn’t do Ashton much good |
|
2001The sheer horror of this woman’s features |
2022Removed |
|
2001Revolting they were, as though the toes had been sliced away |
2022As though the toes had been sliced away |
|
2001I simply cannot tell you how awful they were, and somehow the whole sight was made more grotesque because underneath those frightful scabby bald heads, the bodies were dressed in fashionable and rather pretty clothes. It was monstrous. It was unnatural |
2022Removed |
|
2001Foul bald-headed females |
2022Foul females |
|
2001A boy it vill be for a certainty because girls are not keeping pet mice |
2022Removed |
|
2001These females |
2022They |
|
2001Him |
2022Them |
|
2001Handbags |
2022Bags |
|
2001His |
2022Its |
|
2001Rather pretty young lady |
2022Removed |
|
2001Bunch of dangerous females |
2022Bunch of dangerous witches |
|
2001Filthy old cow |
2022Monster |
|
2001Maid |
2022Cleaner |
|
2001That awful maid |
2022The cleaner |
|
2001That seemed to calm her down a bit |
2022Removed |
|
2001Bald pimply heads |
2022Bald heads |
|
2001Their feet had no toes |
2022Their feet were square at the end |
|
2001Monster |
2022Awful woman |
|
2001Hotel maid |
2022Hotel cleaner |
|
2001Evil woman |
2022Evil person |
|
2001Immensely fat |
2022Removed |
|
2001This woman’s mad |
2022This woman’s clearly not in her right mind |
|
2001Mad woman |
2022Woman |
|
2001Fat little brown mouse |
2022Little brown mouse |
|
2001Fit and frisky |
2022Fit |
|
2001People will think I’m dotty and talking to myself |
2022People will think I’m talking to myself |
|
2001Flood of females |
2022Flood of people |
|
2001Old hag |
2022Old crow |
|
2001Old hag |
2022Old crow |
|
2001Plenty of families with a husband, a wife and several children |
2022Plenty of families |
|
2001English father |
2022English parent |
|
2001You must be mad, woman! |
2022You must be out of your mind! |
|
2001Mrs Jenkins will go crazy |
2022Mrs Jenkins will be furious |
|
2001Skinny little woman |
2022Skinny woman |
|
2001Women were screaming and strong men were turning white in the face and shouting, “It’s crazy! This can’t happen!” |
2022All over the dining room people were screaming, looking panicky and shouting, ‘This can’t be happening!” |
|
2001Laughing like mad |
2022Laughing wildly |
|
2001Not very crazy |
2022Not a big fan |
|
2001Mrs Jenkins’ shrill voice |
2022Mrs Jenkins yelling |
|
2001“Herbert, get me out of here!” |
2022“Help!” she was shouting. “Get me out of here!” |
|
2001He needs to go on a diet |
2022Removed |
|
2001I was crazy |
2022Removed |
|
2001“But what about the rest of the world?’ I cried. “What about America and France and Holland and Germany?” |
2022“But what about the rest of the world?” I cried |
|
2001“There’s no way an English policeman is going to believe that you are the Head of the Norwegian Police.” “I am very good at imitating a man’s voice,” she said. “Of course he believed me.” |
2022“There’s no way a Chief of Police is going to believe that you are the Head of the Norwegian Police.” “I am very good at persuading people,” she said. “Of course they believed me.” |
| Back to top |
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001Mothers and fathers |
2022Parents |
|
2001Your daughter Vanessa, judging by what she’s learnt this term, has no hearing-organs at all |
2022Judging by what your daughter Vanessa has learnt this term, this fact alone is more interesting than anything I have taught in the classroom |
|
2001She went on olden-day sailing ships with Joseph Conrad. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and to India with Rudyard Kipling |
2022She went to nineteenth century estates with Jane Austen. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and California with John Steinbeck |
|
2001She wore heavy make-up and had one of those unfortunate bulging figures where the flesh appears to be strapped in all around the body to prevent it from falling out |
2022Removed |
|
2001Dickens or Kipling |
2022Dickens or Austen |
|
2001Hardly the kind of man a wife dreams about |
2022Hardly the man of my dreams |
|
2001His wife recognised the signs immediately and made herself scarce |
2022Removed |
|
2001Shut up, you nut! |
2022Ssshh! Not yet! |
|
2001Turning white |
2022Turning quite pale |
|
2001Matilda took the knife she had been eating with |
2022Removed |
|
2001He looked like a low-grade bookmaker dressed up for his daughter’s wedding |
2022Removed |
|
2001Beginning to go dark red |
2022Beginning to tremble |
|
2001Bingo afternoons left her so exhausted both physically and emotionally that she never had enough energy left to cook an evening meal |
2022Removed |
|
2001Red in the face |
2022Hot under the collar |
|
2001Female tightrope-walker |
2022Tightrope-walker |
|
2001A lovely pale oval madonna face |
2022A lovely oval face |
|
2001Wonderful parents |
2022Wonderful family |
|
2001Pale and pleasant |
2022Removed |
|
2001A most formidable female |
2022A most formidable woman |
|
2001Her face, I’m afraid, was neither a thing of beauty nor a joy forever |
2022Her face was not a thing of beauty |
|
2001Your fanny |
2022Your backside |
|
2001The plain plump person with the smug suet-pudding face |
2022The plain person with the smug pudding face |
|
2001Their children turned out to be delinquents and drop-outs |
2022Removed |
|
2001I don’t give a tinker’s toot |
2022I don’t give a flip |
|
2001Well thrown, sir! |
2022Well thrown, miss! |
|
2001She’s mad |
2022Removed |
|
2001Mothers and fathers |
2022Parents |
|
2001She’s mad |
2022She’s lost her mind |
|
2001Denizen of the underworld |
2022Resident of the underworld |
|
2001Her great horsy face |
2022Her face |
|
2001Huge overstuffed grub |
2022Overstuffed grub |
|
2001Get your mother or father |
2022Get your family |
|
2001Become a heroine |
2022Become a hero |
|
2001Small boys and girls |
2022Children |
|
2001Save myself from going round the bend |
2022Save myself the trouble |
|
2001His mother |
2022His parents |
|
2001Wobbling crazily on his one leg |
2022Wobbling unsteadily |
|
2001Foolish abandon |
2022Reckless abandon |
|
2001His mother thought it was beautiful |
2022He thought it was beautiful |
|
2001An ass |
2022A clown |
|
2001My father |
2022My family |
|
2001Bunch of morons |
2022Bunch of brats |
|
2001Suicide |
2022Disastrous |
|
2001A gigantic spray-gun in my hands and start pumping it |
2022A gigantic spray-gun in my hands and start squirting them all |
|
2001Mad |
2022Dotty |
|
2001Ranting like a maniac |
2022Removed |
|
2001Bunch of midgets |
2022Bunch of squirts |
|
2001White in the face, white as paper |
2022Removed |
|
2001Wise old bird |
2022Wise teacher |
|
2001A mother at home or a sister or a husband |
2022A mother at home or a sister or a husband, or anyone at all |
|
2001Sane and sensible man |
2022Sensible man |
|
2001I was her slave |
2022Removed |
|
2001I had been her slave |
2022I had been serving her |
|
2001You’re mad |
2022I don’t know why |
|
2001A heroine |
2022A hero |
|
2001Knock her flat |
2022Give her a right talking to |
|
2001Eight nutty little idiots |
2022Eight nutty little boys |
|
2001Matron |
2022Nurse |
|
2001School matron |
2022School nurse |
|
2001Matron |
2022Nurse |
|
2001Crazy with frustration |
2022Wild with frustration |
|
2001Her father’s place |
2022Her parents’ place |
| Back to top |
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001 |
2022Added a dedication: This book is for doctors everywhere |
|
2001He didn’t have a brother or a sister. |
2022He didn’t have any siblings. |
|
2001His father was a farmer |
2022His parents were farmers |
|
2001She had pale brown teeth and a small puckered-up mouth like a dog’s bottom. |
2022She had rotting teeth and a small puckered-up mouth like a dog’s bottom, from years of frowning. |
|
2001She certainly was a very tiny person. |
2022She certainly was very small. |
|
2001Her legs were so short she had to have a footstool |
2022It was as if she was shrinking, as she had to have a footstool |
|
2001Daddy says it’s fine for a man to be tall |
2022Daddy says it’s fine for people to be tall |
|
2001Owch |
2022Ugh |
|
2001Mummy washes them down the sink |
2022Mummy and Daddy wash them down the sink |
|
2001Mummy’s as stupid as you are |
2022Mummy and Daddy are as stupid as you are |
|
2001filthy old woman |
2022mean old woman |
|
2001horny finger |
2022bony finger |
|
2001horrid old witchy woman |
2022horrid old woman |
|
2001blow off the top of her head |
2022shoot sparks out the top of her head |
|
2001Will she go pop? Will she explode? |
2022Will she go pop? Hop like a toad? |
|
2001Maybe that will brighten up those horrid brown teeth of hers |
2022Maybe that will brighten up her smile |
|
2001He found another aerosol can, NEVERMORE PONKING DEODORANT SPRAY, GUARANTEED, it said, TO KEEP AWAY UNPLEASANT BODY SMELLS FOR A WHOLE DAY. ‘She could use plenty of that,’ George said |
2022He found another aerosol can, NEVERMORE PONKING DEODORANT SPRAY, GUARANTEED, it said, TO KEEP AWAY UNPLEASANT BODY SMELLS FOR A WHOLE DAY. ‘Smelling nice never hurt,’ George said |
|
2001His mother’s dressing table |
2022The dressing table |
|
2001THIS POWDER, IF EATEN, WILL MAKE THE DOG EXPLODE. |
2022THIS POWDER, IF EATEN, WILL MAKE THE DOG HOP LIKE A FLEA. |
|
2001Grandma was very fond of gin. She was allowed to have a small nip of it every evening. |
2022Grandma was very fond of gin. She liked to have a small nip of it every evening. |
|
2001Screechy voice |
2022Nasty voice |
|
2001Splendid explosions inside the old geezer |
2022Splendid explosions inside her |
|
2001That grumpy old cow in the living room has every one of those rotten illnesses |
2022Grandma has every one of those rotten illnesses |
|
2001How I’d love to walk in and slosh it all over old Grandma and watch the ticks and fleas go jumping off her |
2022How I’d love to walk in and slosh it all over old Grandma and give her quite the fright. |
|
2001Dashed into his father’s toolshed |
2022Dashed into the toolshed |
|
2001The old hag opened her small wrinkled mouth, showing disgusting pale brown teeth |
2022The old lady opened her small wrinkled mouth. |
|
2001It was exactly as though someone had pushed an electric wire through the underneath of her chair and switched on the current. |
2022It was as though someone had switched her chair with a fighter-jet seat and pressed the eject button. |
|
2001…frozen…quivering |
2022Removed |
|
2001the old hag bucked and shied and snorted |
2022She shied and snorted |
|
2001It’s killing me! |
2022It’s horrible! |
|
2001“Look at you! You’re standing up all on your own and you’re not even using a stick!’ |
2022“Look at you! You’re full of beans!’ |
|
2001The frozen pop-eyed look was back with her again now |
2022Removed |
|
2001Marvellous medicine, George told himself. He found it fascinating to stand there watching what it was doing to the old hag. What next? |
2022What marvellous medicine. What next? |
|
2001old screechy voice |
2022old scratchy voice |
|
2001Your father’ll be after you now! He’ll give you socks and serve you right! |
2022Your parents will be furious! They’ll have you mucking out the stables for a month and it will serve you right! |
|
2001She looked as though she was going to faint. |
2022Removed |
|
2001Mr Kranky was a small man with bandy legs and a huge head. |
2022Removed |
|
2001Don’t listen to the old goat |
2022Don’t listen to the old grump |
|
2001Frisky as a ferret |
2022Lively as a ferret |
|
2001ancient old hag |
2022ancient old woman |
|
2001miserable midgets |
2022miserable bunch |
|
2001I’ll trample you to death |
2022I’ll flatten you |
|
2001bullocks |
2022Removed |
|
2001We’ve made Grandma feel frisky as a ferret |
2022We’ve given Grandma a new lease of life |
|
2001Mummy’s dressing table |
2022The dressing table |
|
2001queer |
2022strange |
|
2001horny hand |
2022wrinkly hand |
|
2001the skinny old hag’s head |
2022her skinny old head |
|
2001a miserable midget |
2022almost invisible |
|
2001That’s what happens to you if you’re grumpy and bad tempered,’ said Mr Kranky. ‘Great medicine of yours, George.’ |
2022Removed |
|
2001But she calmed down quite quickly. And by lunchtime, she was saying, ‘Ah well, I suppose it’s all for the best, really. She was a bit of a nuisance around the house, wasn’t she?’ ‘Yes,’ Mr Kranky said. ‘She most certainly was.’ |
2022Removed |
| Back to top |
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001queer ramshackle house |
2022strange ramshackle house |
|
2001Aunt Sponge was enormously fat and very short |
2022Aunt Sponge was quite large and very short |
|
2001One of those white flabby faces that looked exactly as though it had been boiled |
2022A face that looked like a great soggy overboiled cabbage |
|
2001She had a screeching voice |
2022She had an annoying voice |
|
2001those two ghastly hags |
2022those two ghastly aunts |
|
2001Aunt Sponge, fat and pulpy as a jellyfish |
2022Aunt Sponge, pulpy as a jellyfish |
|
2001Waving her fat arms and starting to dance around in circles |
2022Waving her arms and starting to dance around in circles |
|
2001In another minute, this mammoth fruit was as round and large and fat as Aunt Sponge herself, and probably just as heavy |
2022Removed |
|
2001They were like a couple of hunters who had just shot an elephant |
2022They were like a couple of hunters who had just shot their prey |
|
2001They looked like midgets from another world beside it |
2022They looked like ants beside it |
|
2001James stopped and stared at the speakers, his face white with horror |
2022James stopped and stared at the speakers, his face agog with horror |
|
2001The Spider (who happened to be a female spider) opened her mouth |
2022The Spider opened her mouth |
|
2001Of course I’m not talking to you, you ass! |
2022Of course I’m not talking to you! |
|
2001That crazy Glow-worm has gone to sleep with her light on! |
2022That silly Glow-worm has gone to sleep with her light on! |
|
2001They gaped. They screamed. They started to run |
2022They gaped. They started to run |
|
2001Aunt Sponge, the fat one, tripped over a box |
2022Aunt Sponge tripped over a box |
|
2001Let go, you idiot! |
2022Let go, you clown! |
|
2001James was promptly flung across the room into the Old-Green-Grasshopper’s horny lap |
2022James was promptly flung across the room into the Old-Green-Grasshopper’s lap |
|
2001Everybody was beginning slowly and painfully to disentangle himself from everybody else |
2022Everybody was beginning slowly and painfully to disentangle themselves from everybody else |
|
2001Here we go, boys! |
2022Here we go, folks! |
|
2001Nor I! said Miss Spider. None of us three girls can swim a single stroke |
2022Nor I! said the Earthworm. None of us three can swim a single stroke |
|
2001You know very well I’m blind, snapped the Earthworm. There’s no need to rub it in |
2022You know very well I’m blind, snapped the Earthworm |
|
2001The boy’s crazy |
2022Removed |
|
2001Even the Silkworm, looking white and thin |
2022Even the Silkworm, looking frail and thin |
|
2001The Ladybird answered modestly, blushing all over |
2022The Ladybird answered modestly. |
|
2001Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat,/And tremendously flabby at that./Her tummy and waist/Were as soggy as paste -/It was worse on the place where she sat! |
2022Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute,/And deserved to be squashed by the fruit!/We all felt a big bump/When we dropped with a thump./We left Aunt Sponge behind us/But you needn’t remind us /That we shouldn’t feel rotten,/For we haven’t forgotten/How spiteful she could be! |
|
2001Aunt Spiker was thin as a wire,/And dry as a bone, only drier./She was so long and thin/If you carried her in/You could use her for poking the fire! |
2022Aunt Spiker was much the same/And deserves half of the blame./Ta-ra, Aunt Spiker!/(Though we never did like her)/It’s sad but true./If only she knew,/How the absence of charm/Can do so much harm./With thoughts so frightful/One can’t be delightful/And now worms will have Spiker for tea! |
|
2001Who had been dancing wildly round the deck during this song |
2022Who had been dancing wildly round the deck |
|
2001About twice the height of ordinary men |
2022About twice the average height of a person |
|
2001They must be Cloud-Men! Cloud-Men! they murmured |
2022They must be Cloud-People! Cloud-People! they murmured |
|
2001The Cloud-Men were all standing |
2022The Cloud-People were all standing |
|
2001They must be absolutely mad! the Centipede said |
2022What are they doing?! the Centipede said |
|
2001But the Cloud-Men were much too busy |
2022But the Cloud-People were much too busy |
|
2001One of the Cloud-Men raising his long wispy arms |
2022One of the Cloud-People raising his long wispy arms |
|
2001And all the other Cloud-Men |
2022And all the other Cloud-People |
|
2001Yelling at the Cloud-Men as loud as he could |
2022Yelling at the Cloud-People as loud as he could |
|
2001“Idiots!” he yelled |
2022“Oi!” he yelled |
|
2001The Cloud-Men jumped round |
2022The Cloud-People jumped round |
|
2001Looking back at the Cloud-Men |
2022Looking back at the Cloud-People |
|
2001Making insulting signs at the Cloud-Men |
2022Making insulting signs at the Cloud-People |
|
2001This evidently infuriated the Cloud-Men beyond belief |
2022This evidently infuriated the Cloud-People beyond belief |
|
2001My goodness, how those Cloud-Men could throw! |
2022My goodness, how those Cloud-People could throw! |
|
2001But the Cloud-Men had no intention of stopping |
2022But the Cloud-People had no intention of stopping |
|
2001But there were no Cloud-Men in sight now |
2022But there were no Cloud-People in sight now |
|
2001Don’t be an ass! |
2022Don’t be so silly! |
|
2001But might those not be Cloud-Men |
2022But might those not be Cloud-People |
|
2001“They are Cloud-Men!” |
2022“They are Cloud-People!” |
|
2001“I’d rather be fried alive and eaten by a Mexican!” |
2022“I’d rather be fried alive and eaten!” |
|
2001That monstrous crazy arch |
2022That monstrous arch |
|
2001Staring at the Cloud-Men |
2022Staring at the Cloud-People |
|
2001This was exactly what the Cloud-Men were doing |
2022This was exactly what the Cloud-People were doing |
|
2001The ropes that the Cloud-Men had been using |
2022The ropes that the Cloud-People had been using |
|
2001The faces of a thousand furious Cloud-Men |
2022The faces of a thousand furious Cloud-People |
|
2001One Cloud-Man, a huge hairy creature |
2022One Cloud-Person, a huge hairy creature |
|
2001The huge hairy Cloud-Man |
2022The huge hairy Cloud-Person |
|
2001The rest of the Cloud-Men were so flabbergasted |
2022The rest of the Cloud-People were so flabbergasted |
|
2001The infuriated Cloud-Men |
2022The infuriated Cloud-People |
|
2001The Ladybird said |
2022Said the Ladybird |
|
2001“It’s a Cloud-Man!” Miss Spider cried. “I just know it’s a Cloud-Man!” |
2022“It’s a Cloud-Person!” Miss Spider cried. “I just know it’s a Cloud-Person!” |
|
2001The travellers caught glimpses of Cloud-Men |
2022The travellers caught glimpses of Cloud-People |
|
2001The Cloud-Men turning the handle |
2022The Cloud-People turning the handle |
|
2001The Cloud-Men beating them furiously with long hammers |
2022The Cloud-People beating them furiously with long hammers |
|
2001A Cloud-Men’s city |
2022A Cloud-People’s city |
|
2001There were caves everywhere running into the cloud, and at the entrances to the caves the Cloud-Men’s wives were crouching over little stoves with frying-pans in their hands, frying snowballs for their husband’s suppers |
2022There were houses everywhere running into the cloud, |
|
2001Hundreds of Cloud-Men’s children |
2022Hundreds of Cloud-People children |
|
2001A few women screamed. Others knelt down on the side-walks and began praying aloud. Strong men turned to one another and said things like, I guess this is it, Joe, and Good-bye, everybody, good-bye |
2022Removed |
|
2001The policemen and the firemen all started shouting |
2022The police officers and the firefighters all started shouting |
|
2001Three firemen and five policemen fainted and had to be carried away |
2022Three firefighters and five police officers fainted and had to be carried away |
|
2001Six more big strong men fainted when they saw him |
2022Six more people fainted when they saw him |
|
2001Then Miss Spider’s large black murderous-looking head |
2022Then Miss Spider’s large murderous-looking head |
|
2001going white as a sheet |
2022looking terrified |
|
2001among the firemen and the policemen on the rooftop |
2022among the firefighters and the police officers on the rooftop |
|
2001The men below just stood and stared and gaped |
2022The people below just stood and stared and gaped |
|
2001Policemen cried |
2022Police cried out |
|
2001And the Firemen smiled politely |
2022And the firefighters smiled politely |
|
2001The Earthworm, with his lovely pink skin, was employed by a company that made women’s face creams to speak commercials on the television |
2022The Earthworm, with his lovely smooth skin, was employed by a company that made face-cream commercials on television |
| Back to top |
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001Like all extremely old people, he was delicate and weak |
2022Like most extremely old people, he was delicate and weak |
|
2001“Tell Charlie about that crazy Indian prince,” said Grandma Josephine |
2022“Tell Charlie about that ridiculously rich Indian prince,” said Grandma Josephine |
|
2001“You mean Prince Pondicherry?” said Grandpa Joe, and he began chuckling with laughter. “Completely dotty, said Grandpa George. “But very rich,” said Grandma Georgina |
2022“You mean Prince Puducherry?” said Grandpa Joe, and he began chuckling with laughter |
|
2001“Prince Pondicherry wrote a letter to Mr Willy Wonka” |
2022“Prince Puducherry wrote a letter to Mr Willy Wonka” |
|
2001“The crazy prince” |
2022“The prince” |
|
2001A nine-year-old boy who was so enormously fat he looked as though he had been blown up with a powerful pump |
2022A nine-year-old boy who was so enormous he looked as though he had been blown up with a powerful pump |
|
2001Great flabby folds of fat bulged out from every part of his body, and his face was like a monstrous ball of dough |
2022Great folds bulged out from every part of his body, and his face was like a ball of dough |
|
2001Fully grown women |
2022Fully grown people |
|
2001“A hundred women working for me” |
2022“A hundred people working for me” |
|
2001“Okay, girls” |
2022“Okay, folks” |
|
2001“She needs a really good spanking” |
2022“She needs a really good talking to” |
|
2001“My mother says it’s not ladylike and it looks ugly to see a girl’s jaws going up and down like mine…” |
2022“My mother says it’s undignified and it looks ugly to see jaws to be going up and down like mine…” |
|
2001… shooting up another bunch of gangsters with machine guns |
2022… shooting up another bunch of gangsters |
|
2001Mike Teavee himself had no less than eighteen toy pistols of various sizes hanging from belts around his body, and every now and again he would leap up into the air and fire off half a dozen rounds from one or another of these weapons |
2022Removed |
|
2001“Especially when they start pumping each other full of lead, or flashing the old stilettos, or giving each other the one-two-three with their knuckledusters!” |
2022“Especially when they start firing off their guns or giving each other the one-two-three with their knuckledusters!” |
|
2001The man behind the counter looked fat and well-fed. He had big lips and fat cheeks and a very fat neck |
2022Removed |
|
2001The fat around his neck bulged out all around the top of his collar like a rubber ring |
2022Removed |
|
2001The fat shopkeeper shouted |
2022The shopkeeper shouted |
|
2001The fat shopkeeper said |
2022The shopkeeper said |
|
2001“Get all that mud off your pants!” |
2022“Get all that mud off your trousers!” |
|
2001Policemen with arms linked were trying to hold them back from the gates |
2022Police officers with arms linked were trying to hold them back from the gates |
|
2001All the children, except Charlie, had both their mothers and fathers with them |
2022All the children, except Charlie, had their parents with them |
|
2001“Who’s the big fat boy?” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“Enormous, isn’t he?” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“The picture of the Lone Range stencilled on his windcheater?” |
2022“The picture of the Lone Ranger stencilled on his jacket” |
|
2001“He must be crazy! Look at all those toy pistols he’s got hanging all over him” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“It’s moving! It’s walking! It’s a little person! It’s a little man!” |
2022“A little person!” |
|
2001“It is a little man! Can you see him?” |
2022“It is a little person! Can you see them?” |
|
2001“Aren’t they fantastic” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“No higher than my knee!” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“Look at their funny long hair!” |
2022Removed |
|
2001The tiny men – they were no larger than medium-sized dolls |
2022The little people |
|
2001“But they can’t be real people,” Charlie said |
2022Removed |
|
2001“Imported direct from Loompaland,” said Mr Wonka proudly |
2022“They come from Loompaland” |
|
2001“The Oompa-Loompas spent every moment of their days climbing through the treetops” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“Poor little Oompa-Loompas!” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“The bark of the bong-bong tree” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“You only had to mention the word “cacao” to an Oompa-Loompa and he would start dribbling at the mouth” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“As soon as I discovered that the Oompa-Loompas were crazy about this particular food” |
2022“As soon as I discovered that the Oompa-Loompas loved this particular food” |
|
2001“I climbed up to their tree-house village and poked my head in through the door of the tree house belonging to the leader of the tribe” |
2022“I decided to speak to their leader” |
|
2001“The poor little fellow, looking thin and starved, was sitting there…” |
2022“The fellow was sitting there…” |
|
2001“It’s a deal!” he cried. “Come on! Let’s go!” |
2022“Let’s go and ask the others. But I think it’s a deal!” he cried. “Come on!” |
|
2001“So I shipped them all over here – every man, woman, and child in the Oompa-Loompa tribe” |
2022“So, they all agreed to come over – each and every Oompa-Loompa” |
|
2001“It was easy. I smuggled them over in large packing cases with holes in them, and they all got here safely… They all speak English now” |
2022“They’ve told me they love it here” |
|
2001“They still wear the same kind of clothes they wore in the jungle. They insist upon that” |
2022“They do like jokes” |
|
2001“The men, as you can see for yourselves across the river, wear only deerskins. The women wear leaves, and the children wear nothing at all. The women use fresh leaves every day…” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“But Augustus was deaf to everything except the call of his enormous stomach” |
2022“But Augustus was ignoring everything” |
|
2001Mrs Gloop, going white in the face and waving her umbrella about |
2022Mrs Gloop, waving her umbrella about |
|
2001Mr Wonka turned around and clicked his finger sharply, click, click, click, three times |
2022Removed |
|
2001Immediately, an Oompa-Loompa appeared, as if from nowhere, and stood beside him |
2022An Oompa-Loompa appeared, as if from no where, and stood beside him |
|
2001The Oompa-Loompa bowed and smiled, showing beautiful white teeth. His skin was rosy-white, his hair was golden brown, and the top of his head came just above the height of Mr Wonka’s knee |
2022Removed |
|
2001He wore the usual deerskin slung over his shoulder |
2022Removed |
|
2001“Now listen to me,” said Mr Wonka, looking down at the tiny man. |
2022“Now listen to me,” said Mr Wonka, looking down at the man. |
|
2001“How long could we allow this beast/To gorge and guzzle, feed and feast/On everything he wanted to?/Great Scott! It simply wouldn’t do./However long this pig might live,/We’re positive he’d never give/Even the smallest bit of fun/Or happiness to anyone” |
2022“For one such child as vile as he/Bad things happen, wait and see!/We cannot say we are surprised,/Augustus Gloop had been advised./ But then he took another sip/And now he’s going on a trip. |
|
2001“So what we do in case such/As this, we use the gentle touch,?And carefully we take the brat/And turn him into something that/Will give great pleasure to us all -/A doll, for instance, or a ball,/Or marbles or a rocking horse” |
2022“Cover your eyes and cross your toes,/Whoosh, swoosh and off he goes!” |
|
2001“But this revolting boy, of course,/Was so unutterably vile,/So greedy, foul, and infantile,/He left a most disgusting taste/Inside our mouths, and so in haste/We chose a thing that, come what may./Would take the nasty taste away” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“She wants a good kick in the pants,” whispered Grandpa Joe |
2022“She needs to learn some manners,” whispered Grandpa Joe |
|
2001“He’s crazy!” they shouted. “He’s balmy. |
2022“He’s barmy!” they shouted. |
|
2001The Oompa-Loompas were all rowing like mad |
2022The Oompa-Loompas were all rowing frantically |
|
2001“I tried it on an Ooma-Loompa yesterday in the Testing Room” |
2022“I tried it myself yesterday in the Testing Room” |
|
2001“And when I do, then there’ll be no excuse anymore for little boys and girls going about with bald heads!” |
2022“And when I do, everyone will have as much wonderful hair as they could wish for!” |
|
2001“Little boys and girls never do go about with…” |
2022“Little boys and girls don’t want to grow beards and moustaches…” |
|
2001A few queer rumblings were heard |
2022A few strange rumblings were heard |
|
2001She shot out a fat hand |
2022She shot out a hand |
|
2001Her huge, well-trained jaws |
2022Her well-trained jaws |
|
2001Watching her huge rubbery lips |
2022Watching her lips |
|
2001“I’ve tried it twenty times in the Testing Room on twenty Oompa-Loompas and every one finished up as a blueberry.” |
2022“I’ve tried it twenty times in the Testing Room and every time, someone finished up as a blueberry.” |
|
2001“Thereafter, just from chewing gum,/Miss Bigelow was always dumb,/And spent her life shut up in some/Disgusting sanatorium” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“I gave some to an old Oompa-Loompa” |
2022“I gave some to an Oompa-Loompa” |
|
2001“The Oompa-Loompas all adore it. It makes them tiddly” |
2022“The Oompa-Loompas all adore it” |
|
2001“They’re as drunk as lords,” said Mr Wonka |
2022Removed |
|
2001Mrs Salt was a great fat creature with short legs, and she was blowing like a rhinoceros |
2022Mrs Salt was so out of breath, she was blowing like a rhinoceros |
|
2001He watched his fat wife go tumbling down the hole |
2022He watched his wife go tumbling down the hole |
|
2001Hundreds of Ooma-Loompa children no more than four inches high playing in the streets |
2022Hundreds of Oompa-Loompa children playing in the streets |
|
2001Charlie experienced a queer sense of danger |
2022Charlie experienced a strange sense of danger |
|
2001“But he’s a midget!” shouted Mr Teavee |
2022“But he’s tiny!” shouted Mr Teavee |
|
2001Waving his pistols in the air |
2022Removed |
|
2001He turned away and clicked his fingers three times in the air. An Oompa-Loompa appeared immediately |
2022An Oompa-Loompa appeared and stood beside him |
|
2001“Follow these orders,” said Mr Wonka |
2022“Follow these instructions,” said Mr Wonka |
|
2001Beating their tiny drums |
2022Beating their drums |
|
2001“Or better still, just don’t install/The idiotic thing at all” |
2022Removed |
|
2001Something crazy is going to happen now, Charlie thought |
2022Something bizarre is going to happen now, Charlie thought |
|
2001“He used to be fat! Now he’s thin as a straw!” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“How healthy she looks! Much better than before!” |
2022“How healthy she looks!” |
| Back to top |
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001He was enormously fat. |
2022He was enormous. |
|
2001He was a kind of pot-bellied dwarf. |
2022He was pot-bellied… |
|
2001If any man were lurking in the shadows ahead… |
2022If any person were lurking in the shadows ahead… |
|
2001… the wind would carry the smell of that man… |
2022… the wind would carry the smell of that person… |
|
2001… the fumes of apple cider hang around him like poisonous gases.’ |
2022… the smell of apple cider hangs around him like poisonous fumes.’ |
|
2001… asked one of the Small Foxes. His round black eyes were huge with fright. |
2022… asked one of the Small Foxes. Her round black eyes were huge with fright. |
|
2001“Will there be dogs?” he said. |
2022“Will there be dogs?” she said. |
|
2001Bunce, the little pot-bellied dwarf, looked up at Bean… |
2022Bunce looked up at Bean… |
|
2001The machines were both black. They were murderous, brutal-looking monsters. |
2022They were murderous, brutal-looking monsters. |
|
2001“Keep going!” the fat Boggis shouted… |
2022“Keep going!” Boggis shouted… |
|
2001The tall skinny Bean… |
2022Bean… |
|
2001…and dwarfish pot-bellied Bunce… |
2022… and Bunce… |
|
2001… were driving their machines like maniacs… |
2022… were driving their machines with wild abandon… |
|
2001The fat Boggis was hopping about like a dervish… |
2022Boggis was hopping about like a frog… |
|
2001“You must be mad!” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“That makes one hundred and eight men altogether.” |
2022“That makes one hundred and eight people altogether.” |
|
2001Each man will have a gun and a flashlight. |
2022Each person will have a person and a flashlight. |
|
2001… and that night one hundred and eight men… |
2022… and that night one hundred and eight people… |
|
2001She was very weak. |
2022Removed |
|
2001“… if I described it to you now you would go crazy with excitement.” |
2022“… if I described it to you now you would go wild with excitement.” |
|
2001… chasing the stupid chickens. |
2022… chasing the chickens. |
|
2001The Small Fox ran back along the tunnel as fast as he could… |
2022The Small Fox ran back along the tunnel as fast as she could… |
|
2001He was exploding with joy. |
2022She was exploding with joy. |
|
2001… he kept thinking… |
2022… she kept thinking… |
|
2001He had a long way to run but he never stopped once… |
2022She had a long way to run but she never stopped once |
|
2001… and he came bursting in upon Mrs Fox. |
2022and she came bursting in upon Mrs Fox. |
|
2001… he cried, out of breath. |
2022… she cried, out of breath. |
|
2001A Small Badger (his son) dropped down after him. |
2022A Small Badger dropped down after him. |
|
2001… and all our wives and children. |
2022and our families. |
|
2001Even Weasel… is right now hiding down my hole with Mrs Weasel and six kids. |
2022Even Weasel… is right now hiding down my hole with his family. |
|
2001Badger sat down and put a paw around his small son. |
2022Badger sat down and put a paw around the small badger. |
|
2001“My poor wife up there is so weak she can’t dig another yard.” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“Nor can mine,” said Mr Fox. “And yet at this very minute she is preparing…” |
2022“No, we’re not,” said Mr Fox, “At this very minute Mrs Fox is preparing…” |
|
2001“… and you and Mole and Rabbit and Weasel and all your wives and children.” |
2022“… and you and Mole and Rabbit and Weasel and all your families.” |
|
2001… your small son can run back… |
2022… your little one can run back… |
|
2001… and he scrambled quickly back through the hole in the roof of the tunnel and disappeared. |
2022Scrambling quickly back through the hole in the roof of the tunnel, the little badger disappeared. |
|
2001which belongs to that nasty little pot-bellied dwarf, Bunce |
2022… which belongs to that nasty Bunce. |
|
2001“… you’ll never see finer geese than these in a king’s kitchen…” |
2022“… you’ll never see finer geese than these in a royal kitchen…” |
|
2001“What a thoughtful little fellow you are!” |
2022“What a thoughtful little fox you are.” |
|
2001“Tell her it must be a truly great feast…” |
2022“Tell her it will be a truly great feast…” |
|
2001…said the only Small Fox now left. He was the Smallest Fox of them all. |
2022… said the only Small Fox now left. She was the Smallest Fox of them all. |
|
2001“You saucy beast!” |
2022“You trickster!” |
|
2001“Oh, Dad!” he cried out. |
2022“Oh, Dad!” she cried out. |
|
2001(The Smallest Fox drinks the cider) the Smallest Fox had sneaked a jar off the shelf and had taken a gulp |
2022(The Smallest Fox smells the cider) the Smallest Fox had sneaked a jar off the shelf and had removed the stopper. |
|
2001“Wow!” he gasped. “Wowee!” |
2022“Wow” she gasped at the smell “Wowee!” |
|
2001“Ah-h-h-h-h-h!” gasped the Smallest Fox. “This is some cider!” |
2022“Ah-h-h-h-h-h!” gasped the Smallest Fox, about to take a sip. “This is some cider!” |
|
2001… they saw a huge woman… |
2022… they saw a woman… |
|
2001… up the long home stretch towards the place where they knew Mrs Fox would be waiting. |
2022… and then up the long home stretch towards the foxes’ home. |
|
2001“That ought to cheer up poor Mrs Fox.” |
2022“That ought to cheer up Mrs Fox.” |
|
2001Oh poor Mrs Badger, he cried,’ |
2022Dear Mrs Badger, he cried,’ |
|
2001… and Mr Fox and Badger and the Smallest Fox sat down with the others. |
2022… and Mr Fox and Badger and the Smallest Fox sat down with their families. |
|
2001“I therefore invite you all,” Mr Fox went on, “to stay here with me for ever.” |
2022“I therefore invite you all,” Mr Fox went on, “to stay here with us for ever.” |
|
2001“And every day we will eat like kings.” |
2022“And every day we will eat like royalty.” |
| Back to top |
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001It was something black… |
2022It was something dark… |
|
2001It was something tall and black… |
2022It was something tall and dark… |
|
2001Something very tall and very black and very thin. |
2022Something very tall and very dark and very thin. |
|
2001The tall black figure |
2022The tall dark figure |
|
2001Sophie caught a glimpse of an enormous long pale wrinkly face |
2022Sophie caught a glimpse of an enormous long wrinkly face |
|
2001enormous long pale wrinkly face |
2022enormous long wrinkly face |
|
2001The flashing black eyes |
2022The flashing eyes |
|
2001a huge hand with pale fingers came snaking in |
2022a huge hand came sneaking in |
|
2001felt strong fingers grasping hold of her, and then |
2022Removed |
|
2001enormous long pale wrinkly face |
2022enormous long wrinkly face |
|
2001Sophie’s sense of patriotism was suddenly so bruised by this remark that she became quite angry |
2022Sophie’s sense of patriotism was a bit bruised by this remark and she became quite cross |
|
2001Greeks is all full of uckyslush. No giant is eating Greeks, ever.’ ‘Why not?’ Sophie asked. ‘Greeks from Greece is all tasting greasy,” the Giant said. |
2022Removed |
|
2001and their skins were burnt brown by the sun |
2022and their skins were burnt by the sun |
|
2001And oh how ugly they were! |
2022Removed |
|
2001Japanese beans is very small, so a giant will need to gobble up about six Japanese beans before he is feeling full up. Others like the Norway people and the Yankee-Doodles is ever so much bigger and usually two or three of those makes a good tuck-in. |
2022Removed |
|
2001up to the frisby north to get himself an Esquimo or two |
2022up to the frisby north to get himself an Inuit or two |
|
2001A nice fat Esquimo |
2022A nice Inuit |
|
2001“I’ll take your word for it,” Sophie said. |
2022Removed |
|
2001“And then again, if it is a frosty night and the giant is fridging with cold, he will probably point his nose towards the swultering hotlands to guzzle a few Hottentots to warm him up.” “How perfectly horrible,” Sophie said. “Nothing hots a cold giant up like a hot Hottentot,” the BFG said. |
2022Removed |
|
2001mother and father |
2022parents |
|
2001“I don’t have a mother or a father” |
2022“I don’t have parents” |
|
2001“You is deaf as a dumpling compared with me!” |
2022Removed |
|
2001It was about half as long again as an ordinary man |
2022It was about half as long again as a human being |
|
2001“But couldn’t your mother have taught you?” |
2022“But couldn’t your parents have taught you?” |
|
2001“My mother!” cried the BFG. “Giants don’t have mothers!” |
2022“My parents!” cried the BFG. “Giants don’t have parents!” |
|
2001“Whoever heard of a woman giant”” shouted the BFG waving the snozzcumber around his head like a lasso. “There was never a woman giant! And there will never be one. Giant is always men!” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“After all, you is only a tiny little girl’. |
2022“After all, you is only a titchy human bean” |
|
2001He was naked except for a dirty little piece of cloth around his bottom |
2022Removed |
|
2001His skin was reddish-brown |
2022Removed |
|
2001The eyes were tiny black holes |
2022The eyes were tiny holes |
|
2001The nose was small and flat |
2022The nose was small |
|
2001It was not in the least difficult to believe that this ghastly brute ate men, women and children every night |
2022It was not in the least difficult to believe that this ghastly brute ate people every night |
|
2001Esquimos |
2022Inuits |
|
2001Esquimo |
2022Inuit |
|
2001All of them had piggy little eyes and enormous mouths with thick sausage lips |
2022All of them had piggy little eyes and enormous mouths |
|
2001“Mucky little midget!” |
2022“Mucky little man!” |
|
2001“Everybody is making his own rules to suit himself.” |
2022“Everybody is making their own rules to suit themself.” |
|
2001“Do you have separate dreams for boys and girls?” Sophie asked. “Of course, the BFG said. “If I is giving a girl’s dream to a boy, even if it was a really whoppsy girl’s dream, the boy would be waking up and thinking what a rotbungling grinksludging old dream that was.” “Boys would,” Sophie said. “These here is all the girls’ dreams on this shelf,” the BFG said.” |
2022Removed |
|
2001“Can I read a boy’s dream?” |
2022“Can I read more dreams?” |
|
2001The label on the nearest boy’s-dream jar read as follows |
2022The label on the nearest dream jar read as follows |
|
2001“I find that one rather silly,” Sophie said. “Boys wouldn’t,” the BFG said. |
2022“I find that one rather silly,” Sophie said. “Some wouldn’t”. |
|
2001“Let me read another boy’s one,” Sophie said. |
2022“Let me read another one,” Sophie said. |
|
2001Then his face goes white |
2022Then his face goes sweaty |
|
2001I understand Sir but surely it is me you is wishing to speke to not my little son?” |
2022I understand Sir but surely it is me you is wishing to speke to not my little daughter?” |
|
2001My father’s face is going from white to dark purpel |
2022My father’s face is turning dark purpel |
|
2001Yes Sir very well Sir I will get him Sir” |
2022“Yes Sir very well Sir I will get her sir” |
|
2001“Boys are crazy,” Sophie said. |
2022“That one was weird,” Sophie said. |
|
2001snatching little boys and girls from their beds |
2022snatching little children from their beds |
|
2001and pullling the little boys and girls out of their beds |
2022and pulling the children out of their beds |
|
2001“A lot of little girlsies and boysies is no longer sleeping in their beds tonight” |
2022“A lot of little chiddlers is no longer sleeping in their beds tonight” |
|
2001flattening his tall, thin, black-cloaked body against the side of the building |
2022flattening his tall, thin, cloaked body against the side of the building |
|
2001A little orphan of no real importance in the world |
2022Removed |
|
2001I dreamed that girls and boys |
2022I dreamed that children |
|
2001“Mary! You’ve gone white as a sheet! Are you feeling ill?” |
2022“Mary! You’ve gone still as a statue! Are you feeling ill?” |
|
2001Why did you go white as a ghost all of a sudden? |
2022Why did you go so still all of a sudden? |
|
2001But the bit about the girls and boys disappearing from their dormitories |
2022But the bit about the children disappearing from their dormitories |
|
2001Queer |
2022Funny |
|
2001She simply sat there staring wide-eyed and white-faced at the small girl |
2022She simply sat there staring wide-eyed at the small girl |
|
2001She had not been trained to cope with this kind of madness |
2022She had not been trained to cope with this kind of event |
|
2001Because this is surely not far from the place where madness begins |
2022Because this is surely not far from the place where one’s mind is lost |
|
2001except her faithful old Mary |
2022except her faithful Mary |
|
2001“As they is galloping past my cave, Fleshlumpeater is waving his arms and shouting at me, “I is off to Baghdad and mum and every one of their ten children as well!’” |
2022Removed |
|
2001Get me the Lord Mayor of Baghdad,” she said. “If they don’t have a Lord Mayor, get me the next best thing,” |
2022“Get me the Mayor of Baghdad,” she said. |
|
2001Here is the Sultan of Baghdad speaking,” the voice said. |
2022“Here is the Mayor of Baghdad speaking,” the voice said |
|
2001“Listen, Sultan,” the Queen said. |
2022“Listen, Mayor,” the Queen said. |
|
2001“Every night unpleasant things are happening in Baghdad,” the Sultan said. “We are chopping off people’s heads like you are chopping parsley.” “I’ve never chopped parsley in my life,” said the Queen. |
2022Removed |
|
2001“Only my uncle, Caliph Haroun al Rashid,” the Sultan said. |
2022“Only my uncle,’ the Mayor said. |
|
2001“He disappeared from his bed three nights ago together with his wife and ten children.” |
2022“He disappeared from his bed three nights ago together with his wife and children.” |
|
2001the Sultan |
2022the Mayor |
|
2001“Fleshlumpeater did that one! He went to Baghdad to bag dad and mum and all the little kiddles.” |
2022“Fleshlumpeater did that one!” |
|
2001to explain the situation to the military men |
2022to explain the situation to the military |
|
2001“How?” the two military men said together. |
2022“How?” the Head of the Air Force said. |
|
2001“Hold your horseflies! Keep your skirts on! I think I has the answer to the maiden’s hair!” |
2022“Hold your horseflies! I think I has the answer to the maiden’s hair!” |
|
2001“Your majesty! He cried. “We are dealing with a lunatic!” |
2022“Your majesty!” He cried. “This is unbelievable!” |
|
2001“BFG,” she said, “would you please tell these rather dim-witted characters exactly what to do.” |
2022“BFG,” she said, “would you please tell them exactly what to do”. |
|
2001The military men |
2022The military personnel |
|
2001Then, turning to the two military men |
2022Then, turning to the two military personnel |
|
2001“Go forward, men!” the head of the Army said. |
2022“Go forward!” the Head of the Army said, |
|
2001There were six well-trained efficient men |
2022There were six well-trained efficient people |
|
2001The Fleshlumpeater opened his tiny piggy black eyes |
2022The Fleshlumpeater opened his tiny piggy eyes |
|
2001Ten thousand men and ten thousand machines |
2022Ten thousand people and ten thousand machines |
|
2001“You are not very well educated but you really are nobody’s fool, I can see that.” |
2022Removed |
|
2001Every country in the world that has been visited by the foul man-eating giants |
2022Every country in the world that has been visited by the foul human-eating giants |
|
2001Kings and Presidents and Prime Ministers and Rulers of every kind |
2022Kings and Queens and Presidents and Rulers of every kind |
|
2001at the nine horrendous man-eating giants |
2022at the nine horrendous human-eating giants |
|
2001Three silly men who had drunk too much beer for lunch |
2022Three silly people who had drunk too much beer for lunch |
|
2001The BFG expressed a wish to learn how to speak properly, and Sophie, who loved him as she would a father, volunteered to give him lessons every day |
2022According to the BFG’s wishes, Sophie, who loved him as she would a father, taught him how to spell and write sentences |
| Back to top |
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001fat juicy little child |
2022juicy little child |
|
2001fat juicy little child |
2022juicy little child |
|
2001We eat little boys and girls |
2022We eat little children |
|
2001Even the man who was working the roundabout jumped off it |
2022Even the person who was working the roundabout jumped off it |
|
2001Their mother had said they could go out |
2022Their parents had said they could go out |
| Back to top |
|
2001 |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
2001Tortoises used to be brought into England by the thousand, packed in crates, and they came mostly from North Africa. |
2022Tortoises used to be brought into England by the thousand. They came from lots of different countries, packed in crates. |
|
2001But not many years ago a law was passed that made it illegal to bring any tortoises into the country |
2022But many years ago a law was passed that made it illegal to bring any tortoises into the UK |
|
2001This balcony belonged to an attractive middle-aged lady called Mrs Silver. |
2022This balcony belonged to a kind middle-aged lady called Mrs Silver. |
|
2001… like saving her life or rescuing her from a gang of armed thugs… |
2022… like saving her life or rescuing her from a gang of armed robbers… |
|
2001Try to think how miserable it must make him feel to be so titchy! Everyone wants to grow up. |
2022Try to think how miserable it must make him feel! Everyone wants to grow up. |
|
2001“That’s where all these tortoises in England come from, and a bedouin tribesman told me the secret” |
2022“That’s where some of these tortoises in England come from, and a local person told me the secret” |
|
2001“I beg you to tell me Mr Hoppy! I’ll be your slave for life.” |
2022“I beg you to tell me Mr Hoppy! You’ll be my hero for life.” |
|
2001When he heard the words your slave for life, a little shiver of excitement swept through Mr Hoppy. |
2022When he heard the words my hero for life, a little shiver of excitement swept through Mr Hoppy. |
|
2001“Tortoises are very backwards creatures. Therefore they can only understand words that are written backwards.” |
2022“They can only understand words that are written backwards.” |
|
2001Your slave for life, he kept repeating to himself. What bliss! |
2022My hero for life, he kept repeating to himself. What bliss! |
|
2001“You never know,” Mr Hoppy said darkly. “You never know.” |
2022“You never know,” Mr Hoppy said mysteriously. “You never know.” |
|
2001They are actually growing taller every week, but their mothers never notice it until they grow out of their clothes. |
2022They are actually growing taller every week, but their parents never notice it until they grow out of their clothes. |
|
2001A few weeks later, Mrs Silver became Mrs Hoppy and the two of them lived very happily ever after. |
2022A few weeks later, they got married and the two of them lived very happily ever after. |
| Back to top |
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