Roald Dahl Day, every 13th September, celebrates the writing of arguably one of the greatest children’s authors. His stories, which are often irreverent, do not shy away from difficult topics, often including gory violence and even death. His darkly humorous tales are known and appreciated worldwide, featuring villains or “baddies” who are frequently malicious, spiteful adults posing a danger to children. There are surely few people who have not encountered his most famous works and his endearing young protagonists.
Born on 13th September 1916 in Llandaff, Wales to Norwegian parents, Dahl attended Repton public school, a tough educational establishment which provided role models for the likes of Miss Trunchbull. After leaving, keen to see the world, he joined an expedition to Newfoundland and later worked for Shell in Africa. The outbreak of World War 2 saw him enlisting in the Royal Air Force (RAF) but his role as a fighter pilot resulted in a serious injury. Nevertheless, he continued to serve with his squadron in Greece and later in Syria. From 1942-1943 he worked as Assistant Air Attaché in Washington, during which time he acted as a spy for the British government. Later in life the condition of his son Theo, suffering from hydrocephalus, encouraged him to contribute to the invention of a medical device known as the Wade-Dahl-Till valve, widely used by neurosurgeons.
Fame and Controversy
Around the time he was in Washington he began to write articles about his most exciting adventures in the RAF which were published in the Saturday Evening Post. His first story collection, ‘Over to You: Ten Stories of Flyers and Flying’, was appreciated by book critics but did not sell well, although he did achieve Best Seller status with a collection of macabre stories for adults called ‘Someone Like You’. He also wrote several film scripts including ‘You Only Live Twice’ and contributed to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
While he continued to write for adult readers, his most well-known probably being the televised series, ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ , it is his writing for children which made him a household name around the world. Most of us will know Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, BFG, The Twits, Fantastic Mr Fox and Matilda to name just a few of his well loved works. Inspiration for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory apparently came from his time at boarding school when a local sweet manufacturer invited pupils to trial new chocolate bars. However, his works sometimes caused controversy. For example, James and the Giant Peach was banned in one town in Wisconsin because reference to a spider licking her lips was seen as possibly sexual. Altoona, Wisconsin also objected to repeated use of the word “ass”. Only this year, Puffin Books caused a furore by making revisions to some of his books, with words considered offensive – such as fat – removed from every book.
Despite being loved by millions, Roald Dahl did have some strong critics. He was accused of anti-semitic views and although Dahl said he was anti-Israel not anti-semitic, his estate published an apology for statements he had made. Hephzibah Anderson refers to Dahl as an unpleasant man, describing his stories as ‘bursting with gluttony and flatulence, in which wives feed their husbands worms and the young eaten by bone crushing giants or turned into rodents by bewigged, toeless hags.’
Irreverent, creative genius
Yet it could be argued that it is exactly because of these storylines that Dahl remains so popular. He is inventive with language, which children love, such as lickswishy, snozzberry and scrumdiddlyumptious. Many think that he probably was dyslexic which maybe explains his interest in words and his creative mind. He famously wrote from a hut at the bottom of his garden in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. His tales are filled with gruesome details and pure irreverence. Maria Nikolayeva of the University of Cambridge says it is because children love disgusting stories that Dahl continues to be popular. His ability to combine the foul with humour is indeed a true talent, allowing readers to squirm with disgust and laugh at the same time. Even reluctant young readers are captivated by his imagination and tales of revolting yet lovable characters.
Each generation brings new fans and it is estimated that over 300 million of Dahl’s children’s books have been sold, with one new book being sold every 2.5 seconds. Roald Dahl was without doubt a genius, with the rare talent of appealing to children and adults alike. Hopefully generations to come will continue to enjoy his tales, passing on those ‘messages of the strength and potential of young people, and the power of kindness’, that are at the heart of his writing, to their children and grandchildren.
By the same author
