Roald Dahl Museum to add plaque apologising for author’s antisemitism
The Roald Dahl Museum is to add a plaque apologising for the author’s antisemitism.
The museum, which was founded in 2001 by the author’s widow, Liccy, said in a statement: “The Dahl family and the Roald Dahl Story Company deeply apologise for the lasting and understandable hurt caused by Roald Dahl’s antisemitic statements. Those prejudiced remarks are incomprehensible to us and stand in marked contrast to the man we knew and to the values at the heart of Roald Dahl’s stories, which have positively impacted young people for generations. We hope that, just as he did at his best, at his absolute worst, Roald Dahl can help remind us of the lasting impact of words.”
The apology will be displayed on a panel at the entrance to the museum in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire.
The famous children’s author made numerous inflammatory comments about Jews, such as: “There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity… even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.” He also said of the Jews that nobody had ever “switched so rapidly from victims to barbarous murderers,” an apparent breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism, which considers “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” to be an example of antisemitism.
He also claimed that the Jews owned the media and that positive American relations toward Israel was because of excessive Jewish power.
In 2014, the Royal Mint declined to issue a commemorative coin to celebrate the centenary of Mr Dahl’s birth because of his antisemitism.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We commend the Roald Dahl Museum for installing this plaque. Mr Dahl’s stories entertain and delight millions of children and should continue to do so. At the same time, it is important that a museum and website dedicated to the author present the full story of his life and work, and that includes its darker side.”