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The Messed Up Origins of James and the Giant Peach

Jon Solo・39 minutes read

James and the Giant Peach is compared to the book that inspired it, highlighting censorship by Puffin Books against Roald Dahl's wishes. The story features giant bugs, sky-dwelling monsters, and child abuse, typical of Roald Dahl's empowering tales for kids.

Insights

  • Puffin Books censored Roald Dahl's work against his wishes, altering his original stories to be more politically correct, leading to backlash from fans and a preference for the unedited versions.
  • James and the Giant Peach, while featuring dark themes like child abuse, also conveys a message of resilience and friendship, resonating with readers despite potential controversies and censorship attempts.

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Recent questions

  • What is James and the Giant Peach about?

    A boy's adventure with giant bugs inside a peach.

  • Who are the main characters in James and the Giant Peach?

    James, giant bugs like a ladybug and grasshopper.

  • What controversy surrounds Roald Dahl's books?

    Puffin Books edited his works, sparking backlash.

  • How did fans react to the censorship of Dahl's books?

    Fans preferred the original, unedited versions.

  • What is the message of James and the Giant Peach?

    Overcoming adversity and finding friendship is key.

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Summary

00:00

James and the Giant Peach: Roald Dahl's Empowering Tale

  • James and the Giant Peach is compared to the book that inspired it, highlighting the censorship by Puffin books against Roald Dahl's wishes.
  • The story features giant bugs, sky-dwelling monsters, and child abuse, typical of Roald Dahl's empowering tales for kids.
  • James endures abuse from his aunts, Sponge and Spiker, living in a dilapidated house and forbidden to leave the property.
  • A mysterious man offers James crocodile tongues, leading to the growth of a giant peach that becomes a spectacle for profit.
  • James discovers a tunnel inside the peach, leading him to meet giant bugs who explain their growth from the crocodile tongues.
  • The bugs, including a ladybug, spider, grasshopper, centipede, earthworm, silkworm, and glow worm, welcome James to their crew.
  • The bugs' personalities are showcased, with the grasshopper as a refined gentleman and the earthworm constantly stressed about death.
  • After severing the peach from the tree, it rolls through London, causing chaos, and eventually lands in the ocean.
  • The bugs panic over food shortage, but James reassures them that the peach itself is edible, providing more than enough sustenance.
  • While the movie reveals the destination as New York City, in the book, the crew remains unaware but trusts James to lead them on their adventure.

14:02

"James' Peach Adventure: Ireland to New York"

  • A trip to Ireland is planned for June 5th to June 12th, 2024, lasting 8 days, focusing on visiting awe-inspiring sites like the Rock of Cashel, the Ring of Kerry, Adare Village, The Cliffs of Moher, and Connemara National Park.
  • The trip costs $3,900, covering hotel reservations, local guides, transportation, and airport transfers, with a 25% deposit required, and only 14 spots are available, with 8 offering an early bird discount.
  • James and friends face a shark attack while on a peach in the ocean, with a plan involving seagulls and silk threads to escape, revealing sharks' inability to eat the peach due to their noses.
  • After the shark incident, the crew discusses their journey plans, including a musical number by the centipede about food, and the grasshopper playing music on his body like a violin.
  • The bugs share stories about their unique abilities and past experiences, with a sad tale from the spider about her family's tragic deaths, leading to a discussion on spider superstitions.
  • The centipede falls off the peach, prompting James to rescue him, reminiscent of a scene in the movie where the bugs face a similar situation with Jack Skellington.
  • The crew encounters Cloud Men creating weather, leading to a conflict when the centipede insults them, resulting in a chaotic encounter with hailstones and a rainbow.
  • The peach gets stuck due to a tangled rainbow and seagull ropes, leading to a brainstorming session on how to free the centipede from a purple paint prison.
  • A waterfall from a giant black cloud threatens the crew, causing chaos and fear, but they survive the ordeal, with the centipede finally freed from the paint.
  • The peach lands in New York, causing confusion among the crew, who release seagulls to slow their descent, eventually landing on the Empire State Building, leading to a parade and warm welcome for James and his bug companions.

27:39

Controversial edits spark debate over Dahl's books.

  • Hundreds of kids eat a giant peach, leaving only a stone, which is moved to Central Park as a monument to James.
  • James Henry Trotter, once lonely, now has many friends who visit him regularly to hear his adventure story.
  • Puffin Books and Inclusive Minds controversially edited Roald Dahl's books, making numerous changes to language and descriptions.
  • Changes made by editors include altering descriptions of characters' physical attributes and occupations, weakening the impact of the original writing.
  • Sensitivity readers made changes to make the books more accessible, but these changes often detracted from the original intent and impact of the stories.
  • Fans reacted strongly to the censorship of Dahl's books, leading Puffin Books to offer both the original and edited versions for sale.
  • The original, unedited versions of Dahl's books are now selling better than the edited versions.
  • The message of James and the Giant Peach, about overcoming adversity and finding friendship, is seen as powerful and impactful, despite potential controversial elements.
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