Author: Roald Dahl
Who is Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Norwegian descent, who rose to
prominence in the 1940's with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's
bestselling authors.
Roald Dahl’s childhood:
He was born on September 13th 1916 in Llandaff, Wales to his Norwegian parents. When Roald was just
three years, his older sister Astri died from appendicitis at the age of seven. A short time later his father
died and Roald never really got to know him. His mother Sofie was left to raise her own four kids and
two step children. At 13 years of age, he later transferred to Repton, a public school in Derbyshire. Here
Dahl excelled in sports however struggled academically.
Instead of going to University, Roald Dahl went on an expedition with ‘The Public School’s Exploring
Society’ to Newfoundland at age 18. At age 23, when World War II broke out, he joined the Royal Air
Force in Nairobi as a fighter pilot
In 1952 Dahl met Broadway and Hollywood actress, Patricia Neal whom he married in 1953. In 1960,
Dahl and his family moved to Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, England at ‘Gipsy House’. On the
edge of an orchard at Gipsy House, Dahl was built a special brick hut which is where Roald Dahl wrote
his renowned books. In 1960, Dahl and his family moved to Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire,
England at ‘Gipsy House’. On the edge of an orchard at Gipsy House, Dahl was built a special brick hut
which is where Roald Dahl wrote his renowned books
Roald Dahl’s jobs:
jobs: a sales man, a spy, a fighter pilot, chocolate historian and medical inventor,
as a novelist, short-story writer, poet, fighter pilot, screenwriter, inventor, spy, and chocolate historian.
Roald Dahl’s Career as a writer
- Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya,
published as A Piece of Cake today about his wartime adventure.
- His first children's book was The Gremlins, about mischievous little creatures that was never made, and
published in 1943.
- Some awards:
+ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Whitbread Award-winner
+ Matilda, a winner of the Children’s Book Award
+ Dahl's books are widely available in illustrated editions, and several—including James and the Giant
Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Fantastic Mr. Fox—have been adapted for film.
+ three Edgar Awards: in 1954, for the collection Someone Like You; in 1959, for the story "The
Landlady"; and in 1980, for the episode of Tales of the Unexpected based on "Skin" - macabre adult
short stories, usually with a dark sense of humour and a surprise ending.
Reasons:
Fantastic Mr. Fox was inspired by Dahl’s house and surroundings in Great Missenden, a village in
Buckinghamshire, UK. Dahl frequently took long walks in the countryside, and was inspired by one tree,
known locally as the Witch's Tree. The Witch’s Tree was a 150-year-old beech. It unfortunately no longer
stands. Dahl imagined that a family of very smart foxes lived in a hole beneath the tree trunk. From this,
the whole story emerged.
1-6: 1-3 introducing, 4-6 chasing:
30 maximums: should know or difficult: definition + knowledge
7-12: Camp, dig, chicken
13-18: bean, feast
Whole Review
Essay
