Roald Dahl

Suffering

He saw dying his small daughter Olivia in 1962, and, three years later, his wife Patricia Neal suffered a dangerous disease that was on the verge of making her blind and invalid. Also his son Theo suffered a serious road accident that caused him wounds in the brain when only he was three years old. Dahl spent many months being employed at a special valve that was serving to extract liquids of the head of his son and allowed this one to live with normality, without having to remain connected to a machine.

In spite of these misfortunes, Dahl managed to go out forward and continued writing works that were making him increasingly famous in the whole world.

His childhood

Born in Wales to Norwegian parents.In 1920, when Dahl was three years old, his seven-year-old sister died from appendicitis. Then his father died of pneumonia at the age of 57 while on a fishing trip .This disappearance stopped in the suds economic to the family, which had to move to a smaller house.The mother prefered to continue living in England before that to return to Norway, fulfilling with it the desire of his husband to educate his children in British schools. Throughout his childhood and adolescent years, Dahl spent the majority of his summer holidays with his mother's family in Norway, and wrote about many happy memories from those expeditions

Work before literature

It worked as seller until, he enlisted as aviator to fight in the Second World war, and served in the Air Royal Forces in Lybia, Greece and Syria.Dahl saved his life of miracle, though it had wounds so serious that he was sent home.

Recovered of his wounds, in 1942 he was destined to Washington as expert in matters of aviation of war. Up to 1945 it was employed for the British Security at The United States

Roald

Dahl

Literature starts

Education

His first summary of statements (Over to You; 10 Stories of Flyers and Flying, 1946) would evoke the horrors lived in the war.

In 1945 It was there where he started to become famous as writer, on having put to narrate in newspapers and magazines his vision of the war.

Dahl alternated early these occupations (of war) with his dedication to the infantile and juvenile literature, which would be intensified from the decade of the sixties. His first book for children was The Gremmlins (1943). Soon it obtained big successes with titles as James y el melocotón (1961) and Charlie y la fábrica de chocolates (1964).

It was the strict English education, which included strong punishments, which was less pleasing to the small Roald. More interested in the action and the adventure that in the intellectual effort, when he turned into 18 he became an explorer, instead of registering in the University,as his mother wanted.

Works

Writer

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Is simply one of the best children’s stories of all time. The story is about bad children (and one good child) and the hope offered by Willie Wonka’s Golden Ticket.

James and the Giant Peach: After his parents are eaten by a rhinoceros, James goes to live with his two cruel aunts, and is given a bag of crocodile tongues by a stranger who promises they will bring him happiness. Unfortunately, he drops the bag, and the tongues spill over a fruitless peach tree.

The Witches: After a boy is orphaned he is sent to live with his grandmother In Norway. She warns him about witches, and tells of her friends who were lost to witches. When he and her return to England, she warns him to be on guard, as English witches are the most evil. While staying in a hotel, they discover they have arrived at the annual convention of English witches!

Matilda: It is about a little girl whose name is Matilda. She lives with her family, Mr and Mrs Wormwood. They not very nice people. The dad owns a second-hand car garage and cheats people. At daytime, Her mum is at the bingo and spends almost the entire day there.

When Matilda was alone she went down to the library and spent her day sitting in the library reading. One day she discovers her magic powers and the adventure starts...

Although he is remembered specially by his stories for children and young people, Roald Dahl wrote numerous works for adults .

He stood out specially in the short stories, with histories bordering on the unreality and the morbid or macabre thing in many cases; in them he created a threatening, strange climate linked to the irrationality, combining acutely the black humor with the suspense.

Some of his works of the infantile and juvenile narrative are considered among the best in all the times.