Literary Orgs Silent on Classic Book Censorship

Sensitivity readers, previously a clandestine sect of the new woke movement, came into the open this year.

We have recently learned that they have been altering the prose of iconic authors such as Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming, and most recently, Agatha Christie, as reported by publications like Reason, The New York Post, and The New York Post respectively.

Passages that had entertained readers for decades now have different meanings to protect minds from disturbing “thoughts.”

The authors in question have long since passed away, and their respective estates either agreed to the changes or feared repercussions from the “safe space” generation. Major publishing houses such as HarperCollins also appear to support the updates.

The creator of “Goosebumps,” R.L. Stine, who is very much alive, pushed back after discovering that his works had undergone a similar treatment.

Most artists, such as actors, writers, and musicians, have not objected to sensitivity readers and their Orwellian activities.

Hollywood activists, who are vocal about many issues, remained silent on the matter. Prominent writers such as Stephen King and Joyce Carol Oates have either pretended that the issue does not exist or suggested that it is only relevant if major authors find their work altered.

However, there are a few noteworthy exceptions.

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Salman Rushdie, who has been living under a “fatwa” for decades and was almost killed last year by someone who disagreed with his work, criticized the changes, calling them “absurd censorship.”

PEN America, a left-leaning group dedicated to free expression, spoke out regarding Dahl’s editing, but has not commented much about more recent incidents.

The most unexpected backlash came from former New York Times Book Editor Pamela Paul, who wrote a vehement column criticizing the new woke rules that restrict writers from telling their stories in their own way.

What about the literary community? There are dozens of national organizations that promote emerging artists, provide resources to writers, and support our right to create.

HiT reached out to seven organizations to seek their opinions on the issue. The inquiry was intended to allow them to submit a reaction/comment or briefly discuss the subject in a phone Q&A.

However, none of the groups responded to this site’s request. The organizations in question are:

• The National Book Foundation
• Festival of Books in the Alleghenies
• PEN/Faulkner
• San Diego Writers, Ink
• Community of Literary Magazines and Press
• The Center for Fiction
• Association of Writers and Writing Programs

This is not surprising.

It takes bravery to stand up to the woke mob. Careers can be ruined, reputations besmirched, and the backlash on social media can be extreme. Famous people have frequently given in to the woke mob instead of standing by their beliefs.

Think of Stephen King, Guy Pearce, Scarlett Johansson, Halle Berry, Chuck Lorre, and others.

Literary groups would be in a more comfortable situation if they supported sensitivity readers by declaring the need to protect minds from words. However, their silence indicates that this is not the case.

They would receive plenty of social media adoration if they did so, as well