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Roald Dahl

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Dahl in 1954

Roald Dahl(13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a Britishnovelist,poet,screenwriter,short-story writerand wartimefighterpilot. He was best known for his children's novels and his children books.

Early life

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Dahl was born on 13 September 1916 inLlandaff,Cardiff,WalestoNorwegianparents.[1]He was educated in England, Llandaff Cathedral School, and then worked inAfricafor theShell Oil Company.[2]In theSecond World War,he was anRAFfighter 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 wroteMatildaandThe 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 adulthorrorstories.[3]Many of his books and stories have been made intofilmsandtelevisionshows all over theworld.Among his most popular books areCharlie and the Chocolate Factory,James and the Giant Peach,Matilda,The Witches,The BFG,andKiss Kiss.Many of his children's books have pictures drawn byQuentin Blake.

Personal life and death

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Dahl was married toPatricia Nealfrom 1953 until theydivorcedin 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 inGreat Missenden,Buckinghamshire.He died on 23 November 1990 inOxford,frommyelodysplastic syndrome,aged 74.

ModelSophie Dahlis his granddaughter.

There is a Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre inGreat 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 SequeltoCharlie 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

Non-fiction

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References

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  1. Philip Howard, "Roald Dahl" (1916–1990) ", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
  2. Shavick, Andrea (1997).Roald Dahl The Champion Storyteller.OXFORD: Oxford University Press. pp.14.ISBN9780199119615.
  3. "Roald Dahl (British author) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia".britannica.Retrieved26 July2010.
  4. Barrett, Hathcock (Aug 2017). [EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost /login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=15317094&site=brc-live "Roald Dahl" ].Roald Dahl:1 – via Biography Reference Center.{{cite journal}}:Check|url=value (help)

Other websites

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