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Penguin reveals details of Roald Dahl Classic Collection to keep original works in print
Penguin has revealed more details about the Roald Dahl Classic Collection, which will keep the original works in print after Puffin’s changes to new editions came under scrutiny last year.
The Roald Dahl Classic Collection will publish on 30th January 2024 under the Penguin imprint, and will feature 15 of the author’s most popular novels including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and Matilda as well as three poetry collections: Revolting Rhymes; Dirty Beasts; Rhyme Stew, and two autobiographical works, Boy and Going Solo.
Each book has a new cover featuring Quentin Blake’s illustrations and archive material specifically sourced for this collection by the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre “offering readers an insight into Roald Dahl’s writing process over the years” Penguin said.
Excerpts from first drafts, letters to editors and notebook entries will also be accompanied by archivist’s commentary to show how stories and characters began and evolved.
The new editions will publish in paperback at £7.99 per title and will also be available in audiobook and e-book. The Roald Dahl Classic Collection reinstates the versions of Dahl’s books that we published before the 2022 Puffin editions but will retain “some historical edits to the original texts made by Dahl in his lifetime and by his estate and publishers since his death”, Penguin said.
It explained: “Like many authors, Roald Dahl’s work has been edited through the years, including during his own lifetime to adjust spelling and grammar, to standardise this across titles and very occasionally to remove racist, misogynistic or outdated language. This was done by Roald Dahl himself during his lifetime and by Puffin in partnership with his estate, the Roald Dahl Story Company, since his death.”
The publisher emphasised it has “listened to all sides in the debate around [Dahl’s] books and reflected carefully on the issues", adding: “The Roald Dahl Classic Collection published under the Penguin imprint acknowledges the importance of keeping Roald Dahl’s classic texts in print. They complement the 2022 Puffin editions, which are aimed at young readers who may be reading independently for the first time.”
In February 2023, Puffin defended what it said were “minimal” changes to the text of Roald Dahl’s books after the Telegraph revealed changes had been made, primarily around language related to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race. New sentences not written by the author were also inserted into the books. The revelation prompted an outpouring of criticism from the likes of Salman Rushdie, who called it “absurd censorship".
Days later Puffin announced plans to keep Dahl’s “classic” texts in print and offer readers a choice of both options. This was largely welcomed by the industry, with Nick Poole, chief executive officer of CILIP, saying at the time it was good to see Puffin had “listened to the concerns raised and ensured that if people wish to read Dahl’s books in the original, they can do so".
United Agents’ Jodie Hodges said she wasn’t surprised Puffin had decided to publish two editions, as “it neatly settles the arguments while making perfect business sense". She wondered whether it would be "a strategy we’ll see repeated with other backlist titles across the industry".
Penguin said the new collection “will take its place in our wide range of publishing, giving readers the choice of how to experience the world of Roald Dahl” highlighting the publisher’s 2022 Puffin books for young independent readers as well as full-colour board and novelty books for pre-schoolers, the ELT Readers series written for learners of English as a foreign language, activity books and movie tie-ins.
Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s, told The Bookseller: “The Roald Dahl Classic Collection offers readers the complete world of Roald Dahl’s stories, in beautiful collectors’ editions. With new covers featuring Quentin Blake’s iconic illustrations, and archive material specially sourced by the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Dahl fans old and new can enter a world where invention and mischief can be found on every page, and where magic might be at the very tips of your fingers.
“By making available both the Penguin and Puffin editions, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, mischievous stories. Roald Dahl once said: ’If my books can help children become readers, then I feel I have accomplished something important’. As his publisher, we’ll keep pursuing that ambition for as long as we make books.”
