British author Ian Fleming’s James Bond books are to be republished in an attempt to adapt them to the 21st century, removing several references to race that could be considered offensive, The Sunday Telegraph reports, citing Agerpres.

The books are due out in April for the 70th anniversary of the first James Bond novel.

Fleming’s thrillers – from Casino Royale to The Octopus – will be reissued this spring after Ian Fleming Publications, which owns the rights to the writer’s literary works, commissioned a review by a group of “sensitive readers”.

Reprinted books from the James Bond series will also have explanatory text:

“This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes that modern readers might find offensive were commonplace. Several updates have been made to this edition, as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it takes place.”

Outrage at censorship of favorite books

The news comes as the UK publisher of children’s books by Roald Dahl, including the much-loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, announced plans to rewrite them to remove terms deemed offensive.

In light of the backlash the intention caused in the United Kingdom, Puffin Books announced on Friday that it would continue to print the original versions in a special edition.

In France, the publishing house Gallimard Jeunesse assured that such a revision of the author’s texts is not considered.

The planned rewriting of Roald Dahl’s books has caused numerous reactions of indignation in the literary and political world, in the context of culture wars and accusations of “cancellation of culture”.

Writer Salman Rushdie wrote on Twitter that this was “absurd censorship”.

At a reception on Thursday, Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom asked writers not to be intimidated by “those who want to limit your freedom of expression or limit your imagination.”

Many interpreted these remarks as a criticism of the rewriting of Roald Dahl’s books.