Censorship or context? Australian book industry wrestles with how to refresh outdated classics

Experts say the debate about whether books deemed to be outdated should be edited needs to strike a balance between maintaining integrity and not causing harm to readers. Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images

The news this week that some works of bestselling children’s author Roald Dahl will be edited to remove language deemed offensive – and the eventual decision to keep the original versions in print – has sparked global debate about editing classic texts to reflect contemporary values.

Gone under the changes are descriptions such as “fat” for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Augustus Gloop, replaced by “enormous”, prompting a furious reaction and accusations of “absurd censorship”.