Roald Dahl (1916–1990)
Author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
About the Author
Roald (pronounced "Roo-aal") was born in Llandaff, South Wales. He had a relatively uneventful childhood and was educated at Repton School. During World War II he served as a fighter pilot and for a time was stationed in Washington, D.C.. Prompted by an interviewer, he turned an account of one of show more his war experiences into a short story that was accepted by the Saturday Evening Post, which were eventually collected in Over to You (1946). Dahl's stories are often described as horror tales or fantasies, but neither description does them justice. He has the ability to treat the horrible and ghastly with a light touch, sometimes even with a humorous one. His tales never become merely shocking or gruesome. His purpose is not to shock but to entertain, and much of the entertainment comes from the unusual twists in his plots, rather than from grizzly details. Dahl has also become famous as a writer of children's stories. In some circles, these works have cased great controversy. Critics have charged that Dahl's work is anti-Semitic and degrades women. Nevertheless, his work continues to be read: Charlie and Chocolate Factory (1964) was made into a successful movie, The BFG was made into a movie in July 2017, and his books of rhymes for children continue to be very popular. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (1964) 1,174 copies, 4 reviews
The Roald Dahl Audio CD Collection: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / James and the Giant Peach / Fantastic Mr. Fox /… (1991) 68 copies, 4 reviews
Roald Dahl: 5 Bestsellers Including Over 40 Tales of the Unexpected [Complete & Unabridged] (1986) 62 copies
The Roald Dahl Collection, Box Set Including "George's Marvelous Medicine", "James and the Giant Peach", "The Twits",… (2006) 57 copies
Roald Dahl 15 Book Box Set Collection 43 copies
Roald Dahl Omnibus: The Witches / Esio Trot / The Twits / The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (1999) 42 copies
Fantastic Mr. Fox and Other Animal Stories: Includes Esio Trot, The Enormous Crocodile & The Giraffe and the Pelly and… (2004) 40 copies, 3 reviews
Roald Dahl Magical Gift Set (4 Books): Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox,… (2004) 39 copies
Roald Dahl Splendiferous Story Collection Boxed Set: 4 Books Full-Color Illustrations, James and the Giant Peach,… (2015) 25 copies
Roald Dahl 6-Book Boxed Set: The Witches, George's Marvelous Medicine, The Twits, Esio Trot, Matilda, The BFG (1602) 23 copies
Roald Dahl 10 Book Pack (Esio Trot, George's Marvelous Medicine, The Twits, The Witches, The Giraffe the Pelly and Me,… (2003) 18 copies
The Best of Roald Dahl: James and the Giant Peach; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Charlie and the Great Glass… (2002) 15 copies
Roald Dahl's namensoep met alle namen uit de boeken van Roald Dahl, die zijn vertaald door Huberte Vriesendorp (2002) 12 copies
Two Classics by Roald Dahl 9 copies
Wonderful, Wicked, and Whizzpopping: The Stories, Characters, and Inventions of Roald Dahl (2017) 8 copies, 1 review
Roald Dahl's Incredible Inventions 7 copies
Roald Dahl's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Color and Draw (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) (2005) 7 copies
The Roald Dahl Collection 6 copies
Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory PLUS Three More All-Time Favorites (Boxed Set) (1977) 5 copies
Roald Dahl's Rotsome Giants 5 copies
Roald Dahl Collection 8 Books Set (Trickery, War, Fear, Innocence, Deception, Madness, Cruelty, Lust) (2018) 4 copies
Charlie et la chocolaterie ; Charlie et le grand ascenseur de verre ; James et la grosse pêche ; Matilda (2006) 4 copies
Mr botibol / and other short stories 4 copies
The Puffin Roald Dahl Collection Volume 2: "James and the Giant Peach", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Charlie… (1986) 4 copies
Miraculous Ever-Growing Tortoise 3 copies
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory 3 copies
Ladybird Readers Level 3 - Roald Dahl: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (ELT Graded Reader) (2021) 3 copies
Nornirnar — Author — 3 copies
Las riquísimas recetas repulsivas de Roald Dahl / Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes (Spanish Edition) (2024) 3 copies
The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (Young Puffin Read Alone) by Dahl Roald (2001-04-05) Paperback 3 copies
Postman Pat Parcel 3 copies
Musi mopsti 3 copies
Roald Dahl 5-Book HC Box Set - Charlie/Chocolate Factory, Charlie/Great Glass Elevator, Danny Champion of the World,… (2013) 3 copies
The Puffin Roald Dahl Collection Volume 1: "The Twits", "George's Marvellous Medicine", "Fantastic Mr Fox" and "The… (1987) 3 copies
Man from South and Other Stories Book & MP3 Pack: Level 6: Audio MP3-Pack - Level 6 (Penguin Readers (Graded Readers)) (2011) 3 copies
Someone Like You [short story] 3 copies
In the Ruins 3 copies
Splendiferous Quiz Book 2 copies
Das große Roald-Dahl-Lesebuch: Das Wundermittel. Die Zwicks stehen kopf. Die Giraffe, der Peli und ich (2002) 2 copies
The Roald Dahl Collection - Set 1 2 copies
Beesten aan boord 2 copies
Roald Dahl Set (Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Twits, Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes) (1988) 2 copies
Incredible Giant Insects 2 copies
The Roald Dahl Adults Library - 7 Books Set (Someone Like You; Over to You; Kiss Kiss; Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life;… (1900) 2 copies
¿Dónde está Wonka? / Where's Wonka?: A Search-and-Find Book (Busca Y Encuentra) (Spanish… (2024) 2 copies, 1 review
Roald Dahl agenda 1992 2 copies
Roald Dahl Creative Writing with James and the Giant Peach: How to Write Phenomenal Poetry (2020) 2 copies
The Roald Dahl Collection, Volume 2 (Contains "The Witches", "George's Marvelous Medicine", and "Revolting Rhymes and… (2014) 2 copies
Tales of the unexpected season 3 DVD — Creator — 2 copies
Kinder Krakers Toffe Kinderverhalen van o.a. Sjoerd Kuyper, Roald Dahl, Diet Verschoor en Astrid Lindgren (2000) 2 copies
Three More from Roald Dahl: Boxed Set of "The Witches", "Danny the Champion of the World", and "James and the Giant… (1991) 2 copies
National Portraint Gallery, Smithsonian Institution: Permanent Collection Illustrated Checklist (2009) 2 copies
WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCALATE FACTORY 2 copies
Roald Dahl 5 Book Pack (The Bfg, Esio Trot, George's Marvelous Medicine, The Twits, The Witches) 2 copies
The Butler [short story] 2 copies
Puss puss : noveller 2 copies
Matilda (Alfaguara Clásicos) 2 copies
Stoute meisjes verhalen 1 copy
Breath Of Danger 1 copy
Best Tales Of Terror 1 copy
The Road builder play 1 copy
The Butler and Other Stories 1 copy
Roald Dahl Fairy Tales Collection 15 Books Bundle (The Witches, Matilda, The BFG, Going Solo, The Giraffe the Pelly and… (2016) 1 copy
Utterly Fantastic Foxes — Author — 1 copy
LE STRGHE — Author — 1 copy
Čarli in tovarna čokolade 1 copy
Grútur og Gribba — Author — 1 copy
A Chamber Of Horrors 1 copy
Furbo il signor Volpe 1 copy
Dahl Colour Ed 2x Pack 1 copy
Džordža brīnumzāles 1 copy
Anlasildi, Tamam 1 copy
Ych-a-fi! 1 copy
ALDI Dahl Picture Books 2016 1 copy
Aus Post Dahl Special sale 1 copy
Мальчик. Рассказы о детстве 1 copy
Большой и Добрый Великан 1 copy
The Magic Finger / Fantastic Mr. Fox / James and the Giant Peach / Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1991) 1 copy
The twists 1 copy
George Marvellous Medicine 1 copy
Le Bon Gros Géant 1 copy
Even op verhaal komen — Contributor — 1 copy
James and the Goat Peach 1 copy
Boy / The Witches / Matilda 1 copy
The Bookseller | Taste 1 copy
De Fazanten 1 copy
Roald Dahl Collection 1 copy
How to avoid witches 1 copy
סיפורי הפתעה 1 copy
Jeu 1 copy
The StoryTeller 1 copy
Cowarldly Clyde 1 copy
Mickey Finds a Kitten 1 copy
Franklin Wants a Pet 1 copy
Roald Dahl: box set 10 volumes - incl The Twits, Going Solo, Matilda, The Witches, Charlie and the Chocolate… (2001) 1 copy
The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Going Solo, The Magic Finger, Fantastic Mr. Fox, James and the Giant Peach, The Vicar… (1982) 1 copy
The Enormous Carrot 1 copy
Books 1 copy
Four Favourite Stories: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Enormous Crocodile and The… (2004) 1 copy
Topklasse 1 copy
Roald Dahl összes meghökkentő meséje. 2 — Author — 1 copy
Roald Dahl Omnibus 1 copy
La fabbrica del cioccolato — Author — 1 copy
The Roald Dahl assortment 1 copy
Happy Reader: Spotty Powder 1 copy
As Crianças do Mundo 1 copy
Storie ancora più impreviste — Author — 1 copy
Sn̄n er vi : Noveller 1 copy
Génesis y catastrofe 1 copy
Gutt 1 copy
In Solitario diario di volo — Author — 1 copy
עור וסיפורים אחרים 1 copy
Boy / The BFG 1 copy
Koletu Krokodill 1 copy
Short Stories — Author — 1 copy
Marele Urias Prietenos 1 copy
Fábulas 1 copy
Roald Dahl's very crafty crocodile — Author — 1 copy
Roald Dahl's Incredible Giant Insects — Author — 1 copy
Het griezelluisterboek 1 copy
Den store Roald Dahl boken 1 copy
James's minibeast book 1 copy
The Roald Dahl Collection 2 (The BFG, The Witches, Matilda) — Author — 1 copy
Associated Works
Secret Ingredients: The New Yorker Book of Food and Drink (2007) — Contributor — 553 copies, 10 reviews
Murder on the Menu: Cordon Bleu Stories of Crime and Mystery, Volume 1 (1984) — Contributor — 202 copies, 2 reviews
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories to Be Read with the Door Locked (1975) — Contributor — 170 copies, 4 reviews
An American Album: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Harper's Magazine (2000) — Contributor — 140 copies, 1 review
McSweeney's Issue 45 (McSweeney's Quarterly Concern): Hitchcock and Bradbury Fistfight in Heaven (2013) — Contributor — 106 copies, 5 reviews
Chamber of Horrors: Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural (1984) — Contributor — 66 copies, 1 review
The Edgar Winners: 33rd Annual Anthology of the Mystery Writers of America (1980) — Contributor — 46 copies, 1 review
The Mystery Hall of Fame: An Anthology of Classic Mystery and Suspense Stories (1984) — Contributor — 32 copies, 1 review
Murder on the Menu: Cordon Bleu Stories of Crime and Mystery, Volume 2 (1993) — Contributor — 20 copies
Selected Shorts: Food Fictions (Selected Shorts: A Celebration of the Short Story) (2007) — Contributor — 11 copies, 3 reviews
Science fiction omnibus 5 copies
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine - 1954/11 — Contributor, some editions — 4 copies
Hoog zomerboek : dertien romans, novellen en lange verhalen van Gabriel García Márquez, Roald Dahl, Herman Koch,… (1994) — Contributor — 3 copies
Piirakkasota; valikoima huumoria — Contributor — 3 copies
Meesters der vertelkunst : zevenendertig verhalen uit de moderne wereldliteratuur (1975) — Contributor — 2 copies
Vakantieverhalen — Contributor — 1 copy
Mystery and Suspense — Contributor — 1 copy
Tchnienie Grozy — Contributor — 1 copy
You Only Live Twice — Writer — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Dahl, Roald
- Legal name
- Dahl, Roald
- Birthdate
- 1916-09-13
- Date of death
- 1990-11-23
- Burial location
- Saint Peter and Saint Paul Churchyard, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Country (for map)
- Wales, UK
- Birthplace
- Llandaff, Wales, UK
- Place of death
- Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
- Cause of death
- myelodysplastic syndrome
- Places of residence
- Great Missenden, England, UK
- Education
- Repton School, Derbyshire, England
- Occupations
- novelist
poet
screenwriter
fighter pilot
spy
chocolate historian (show all 7)
medical inventor - Relationships
- Neal, Patricia (first spouse)
Dahl, Felicity (second spouse)
Dahl, Tessa (daughter)
Dahl, Sophie (granddaughter) - Organizations
- Royal Air Force
Members
Discussions
Found: A recent widow gets approached by a doctor -- possibly fiction in Name that Book (December 2023)
Roald Dahl in The Green Dragon (April 2023)
Changes to Roald Dahl's Books in Folio Society Devotees (March 2023)
Roald Dahl's children's books; Once banned, now bastardized in Banned Books (February 2023)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Folio Society Devotees (October 2021)
Author Grudge Match: Roald Dahl vs. C. S. Lewis in Book talk (March 2014)
Roald Dahl favourites in British & Irish Children's Fiction (June 2011)
Reviews
Fantastic Mr. Fox and Other Animal Stories… by Roald Dahl
Very enjoyable book to listen to made so by the wonderful narrators. Was checking whether it would be appropriate for my 8-year-old and decided to wait a year or so as the themes in the stories, as is often the case for Roald Dahl, are somewhat darker than what I am comfortable exposing my child to at this stage. For me personally however they were entertaining and delightful, and I would recommend to any older reader of the fantasy/horror fiction genre.
I loved this book so much. Seeing left out tidbits, learning more about Roald Dahl, the illustrations. All of it. Definitely worth the read. I would recommend this to any Roald Dahl fans. Easily 5 out of 5 stars. I just wish it were longer!
Considerably meaner than the movie, this is not a great book for young children, unless someone is going to take the time to explain.
Lists
Witchy Fiction (1)
Five star books (1)
READ IN 2022 (1)
BitLife (1)
100 Hemskaste (1)
Bullies (1)
Best Young Adult (1)
Metamorphoses (1)
al.vick-series (1)
Poetry Corner (1)
BBC Big Read (1)
BBC Top Books (1)
scav (1)
Comfort Reads (1)
1970 Club (1)
United Kingdom (1)
Book club books (1)
Elementary Reads (1)
England (1)
Oscars (1)
WISHLIST (1)
4th Grade Books (3)
1980s (3)
um actually (2)
BBC Big Read (8)
Magic Realism (6)
Children's Humor (6)
1960s (2)
Overdue Podcast (2)
to get (1)
Writing (1)
Edgar Award (1)
Gateway Horror (1)
Favourite Roald Dahl (21)
Food Fiction (1)
Cats in Fiction (1)
Elevenses (2)
Favourite Books (2)
Sonlight Books (2)
Robin (2)
Folio Society (2)
1970s (2)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 675
- Also by
- 132
- Members
- 238,601
- Popularity
- #17
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 3,363
- ISBNs
- 4,588
- Languages
- 51
- Favorited
- 680
