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Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, poet, screenwriter, short-story writer and wartime fighter pilot. He was best known for his children's novels and his children books.
Dahl was born on 13 September 1916 in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales to Norwegian parents.[1] He was educated in England, Llandaff Cathedral School, and then worked in Africa for the Shell Oil Company.[2] In the Second World War, he was an RAF fighter pilot. It was after an air-crash and "a monumental bash on the head" that he began to write. The crash was the subject of his first published story, "Shot Down Over Libya". He wrote Matilda and The Twits.
He wanted to become an adult book writer but ended up as a children's book writer. He had a tragic life since his father and oldest sister both died when he was young. Roald Dahl said that the key to his success rested in sympathising with children and realising that to children, parents and school teachers are the enemy.
Dahl wrote many famous children's stories and adult horror stories.[3] Many of his books and stories have been made into films and television shows all over the world. Among his most popular books are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Witches, The BFG, and Kiss Kiss. Many of his children's books have pictures drawn by Quentin Blake.
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Dahl was married to Patricia Neal from 1953 until they divorced in 1983. They had four daughters (one of whom died before them) and a son. Dahl was married to Felicity Crosland from 1983 until his death. He lived in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. He died on 23 November 1990 in Oxford, from myelodysplastic syndrome, aged 74.
Model Sophie Dahl is his granddaughter.
There is a Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden.[4]
| Title | Year | Scope | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Gremlins | 1943 | Children | |
| Sometime Never: A Fable for Supermen | 1948 | Adult | |
| James and the Giant Peach | 1961 | Children | |
| Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | 1964 | Children | |
| The Magic Finger | 1966 | Children | Short book |
| Fantastic Mr Fox | 1970 | Children | Short book |
| Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator | 1972 | Children | Sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory |
| Danny, the Champion of the World | 1975 | Children | |
| The Enormous Crocodile | 1978 | Children | Short book |
| My Uncle Oswald | 1979 | Adult | |
| The Twits | 1980 | Children | Short book |
| George's Marvellous Medicine | 1981 | Children | Short book |
| The BFG | 1982 | Children | |
| The Witches | 1983 | Children | |
| The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me | 1985 | Children | Short book |
| Matilda | 1988 | Children | |
| Esio Trot | 1990 | Children | Short book |
| The Vicar of Nibbleswick | 1991 | Children | Short book |
| The Minpins | 1991 | Children | Short book |
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- Revolting Rhymes
- Dirty Beasts
- Rhyme Stew
- Boy: Tales of Childhood
- Going Solo
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