Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a Welsh-born English novelist, poet, screenwriter, short-story writer and wartime fighter pilot. He was best known for his children's novels and his children books.

Early life
Dahl was born on 13 September 1916   in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales to Norwegian parents.Philip Howard, "Roald Dahl" (1916–1990)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 He was educated in England, Llandaff Cathedral School, and then worked in Africa for the Shell Oil Company. In the Second World War, he was an RAF fighter 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 wrote Matilda and The Twits.

Writing
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 adult horror stories. Many of his books and stories have been made into films and television shows all over the world. Among his most popular books are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Witches, The BFG, and Kiss Kiss. Many of his children's books have pictures drawn by Quentin Blake.

Personal life and death
Dahl was married to Patricia Neal from 1953 until they divorced in 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 in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. He died on 23 November 1990 in Oxford, from myelodysplastic syndrome, aged 74.

Model Sophie Dahl is his granddaughter.

There is a Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden.

 Books 
+TitleYearScopeNotesThe Gremlins1943ChildrenSometime Never: A Fable for Supermen1948AdultJames and the Giant Peach1961ChildrenCharlie and the Chocolate Factory1964ChildrenThe Magic Finger1966ChildrenShort bookFantastic Mr Fox1970ChildrenShort bookCharlie and the Great Glass Elevator1972ChildrenSequel to Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryDanny, the Champion of the World1975ChildrenThe Enormous Crocodile1978ChildrenShort bookMy Uncle Oswald1979AdultThe Twits1980ChildrenShort bookGeorge's Marvellous Medicine1981ChildrenShort bookThe BFG1982ChildrenThe Witches1983ChildrenThe Giraffe and the Pelly and Me1985ChildrenShort bookMatilda1988ChildrenEsio Trot1990ChildrenShort bookThe Vicar of Nibbleswick1991ChildrenShort bookThe Minpins1991ChildrenShort book

 Poems 
 Revolting Rhymes
 Dirty Beasts
 Rhyme Stew

 Non-fiction 
 Boy: Tales of Childhood
 Going Solo

 References 

 Other websites 



Category:1916 births
Category:1990 deaths
Category:British autobiographers
Category:British children's writers
Category:Welsh novelists
Category:Writers from Cardiff