“Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple.” -- Roald Dahl for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Roald Dahl

Group Author Study EDML 177November 2010Lindsey, Nolan, Rose, Stafford

http://worldsstrongestlibrarian.com/5928/more-banned-books-roald-dahl-edition/

http://yalitauthors.wikispaces.com/A-E

Dahl Biography• Born 1916 in Wales

– Boyhood trips to candy shop inspired Charlie and Chocolate Factory

• Unhappy childhood:– Mother raised Roald alone after father

died – Autobiography entitled Boy details

Dahl’s school days and many pranks

• WWII Ace in Royal Air Force• Married Twice:

– American Actress Patricia Neal in 1953• Settled in Great Missenden, England

– 2nd wife: friend Felicity Crosland in 1980

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1301083/British-spy-Roald-Dahl-slept-countless-women-working-America.html

http://www.roalddahlfans.com/pictures/picture2.php

Dahl Biography

• Writing career– Started with adult fiction, then

started writing for his daughters

– Wrote in solitude in a hut in his garden

• Themes– Adult villains who hate children– Dark humor– Prevalent violence and abuse

• Died in 1990– Buried in Great Missenden

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1301083/British-spy-Roald-Dahl-slept-countless-women-working-America.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/4081156.stm

http://amorbidfascination.blogspot.com/2010/02/grave-of-roald-dahl-great-missenden.html

Dahl’s Legacy• Wildly popular Books (especially with

kids)– James and Giant Peach– Charlie and Chocolate Factory– Matilda– The BFG

• Movies/Screenplays– James Bond– Chitty Chitty Bang Bang– Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

(twice)– Matilda– Fantastic Mr. Fox– The Witches

• Museum

Book Highlights – James and the Giant Peach“When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it’s as big as a house. Then James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit, and when he crawls inside, he meets a bunch of oversized friends--grasshopper, centipede, ladybug, and more. After years of feeling like an outsider in his Aunts’ house, James has finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away and the adventure begins!”

“This book is a fantastic adventure story with the classic Roald Dahl twist, eccentric characters and an extraordinary journey.I would suggest James and the Giant Peach to anyone in search of a one of a kind story.” K.T., Young Adult Books Central

Dahl, R. (1961) James and the Giant Peach. NY: Puffin Books.

Book reviews from yabookscentral.com

Book Highlights – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory“Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Agustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spolied-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy-pistol toting gangster-in-training who’s obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!”

“This is an amazing book! I bet almost every one has seen at least one of the movies, but not many people have read the book. I recomened it to every one. But you should only read it if you are eating chocolate at the same time, or you will get very HUNGRY!” Rose, Young Adult Books Central

Dahl, R. (1964) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. NY: Puffin Books.

Book reviews from yabookscentral.com

Matilda“Who put superglue in Dad’s hat? Was it really a ghost that made mom tear out of the house? Matilda is a genius with idiot parents--and she’s having a great time driving them crazy. But at school things are different. At school there’s Miss Trunchbull, two-hundred menacing pounds of kid-hating headmistress. Get rid of the Trunchbull and Matilda would be a hero. But that would take a super genius, wouldn’t it?”

“I loved this book soooo much I've read it tons and tons of times and also to my little cousins who absolutely love it. I absolutely love the fact that Matilda has these powers that help make her so special, wish I had them they'd be great to have.” Liz, Young Adult Books Central

Dahl, R. (1988) Matilda. NY: Puffin Books.

Book reviews from yabookscentral.com

References/Website Resources:

• Official Dahl Site: – http://www.roalddahl.com/

• Dahl Museum:– http://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/default.aspx

• Interviews with Dahl– http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/audiointerviews/pr

ofilepages/dahlr1.shtml– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7senu6OzV

A&feature=related

– Notes from interview by David Bishop:• http://viciousimagery.blogspot.com/2007/01/roald-

dahl-interview-1989.html• Dahl Lesson plans for teachers:

– http://www.roalddahlfans.com/teachers.php– http://litplans.com/authors/Roald_Dahl.html

• Dahl Facts:– http://www.readathon.org/2008_roald_dahl.html

http://www.flickwit.net/roald-dahl/1/

References/Website Resources :• Biography:

– http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/roald-dahl/pages/biography.shtml

• Dahl’s School Days– http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/roald-dahl/pages/

media-2000-school.shtml– Summary of his autobiography, entitled BOY, including

hilarious pranks and school stories: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_%28book%29

• Ophelia Dahl talks about her fathers’ writing:– http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/roald-dahl/pages/

media-2000-writing.shtml• Marriages:

– Dahl’s wives talk about meeting him:• http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/roald-dahl/pages/med

ia-2000-wives.shtml– Dahl/Neal Marriage and Divorce:

• http://marriage.about.com/od/academyawards/p/Roald-Dahl-And-Patricia-Neal-Marriage-Profile.htm

• Obituary in NY Times:– http://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/24/obituaries/roald-d

ahl-writer-74-is-dead-best-sellers-enchanted-children.html

Photo: Keystone / Getty Images

“A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.” -- Roald Dahl for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)