“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.

Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” 

• Roald Dahl

Now that I have your attention, “Don't gobblefunk around with words.” advised Roald Dahl.

GLORIUMPTIOUS - conveys pure marvelousness.

HUGGYBEE - It's a term as sweet as honey and as warm as a hug.

MUGGLED – confused.

RUMMYTOT – nonsense.

SKUMPING – worried.

Is this all a bunch of rummytot?

Life Lesson: “The healthiest response to life is joy.” —Mark Twain may be a huggybee.  

Roald Dahl (1916 –1990) was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, and screenwriter.  He has been called "one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century.” Many of his memorable children’s books include James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but he also wrote for adult readers including The Tales of the Unexpected and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.

Dahl may be remembered for his marriage to actress Patricia Neal, a thirty-year marriage producing five children. But that all ended in 1983 after an eleven-year affair with Felicity d’Abreu Crosland whom he married shortly after the divorce. 

            Following her divorce, Patricia Neal wrote her autobiography, As I Am (1988). The lasting message contained within the pages was
A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.” She suffered many health challenges, was a heavy smoker, and succumbed to lung cancer in 2010. Patricia Neal, a multi-talented actress, won The Academy Award for Best Actress in Hud, 1963, co-starring Paul Newman. 

Noted in February 2023:

“Changes to new editions of Roald Dahl books have readers up in arms,” reported Jaclyn Diaz, explaining that Puffin and The Roald Dahl Story Company manage the copyrights of Dahl's books. Their goal is “to promote equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in children’s books,” but changes are being made.

"Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed," Salman Rushdie tweeted, adding this is “absurd censorship.” Rushdie is no stranger to controversy or the power of the word either. The changes in many of Dahl’s books (about half) include genders, (parents or family will replace mother and father), appearances (fat is removed from all texts), races, and character physical attributes (ugly is now beastly), and lastly, crazy is replaced with frustration or silly, describing mental health.

In their defense, Roald Dahl Story Company’s “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,” and “we regularly review the language to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all today.”

It should be noted that Dahl, who was overtly anti-Semitic, was no stranger to criticism, as his works were called antisocial, brutish, and anti-feminist. Matthew Dennison, writing a biography of Dahl, said “the author was known to have fractious relationships with his editors and disliked anyone tampering with his work.  

 

Said Dahl, “I never get any protests from children. All you get are giggles of mirth and squirms of delight. I know what children like.”