Inspirational Quotes by Roald Dahl (British Short-Story Writer, Playwright)

Roald Dahl (1916–90) was a British author of popular ingenious, irreverent children’s books. He was also a short-story writer, playwright, and versifier.

Born in Llandaff, Wales, of Norwegian parents, Dahl avoided a university education, joined an expedition to Newfoundland, and worked in Tanzania. He served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II and got seriously injured when his fighter jet crash-landed in Libya. He later served in Greece, Syria, and Washington, D.C.

Dahl’s first short stories, collected as Over to You (1946,) were based on his wartime experiences in the RAF and were heavily influenced by Ernest Hemingway. As his mature style developed, he began to specialize in the macabre. Subsequent collections such as Someone Like You (1954) and Kiss Kiss (1960) achieved enormous success. His last significant group of adult stories was Switch Bitch (1974,) which explored erotic themes and introduced readers to the priapic Oswald Cornelius, the hero of a later novel, My Uncle Oswald (1979.)

Dahl is among the most popular children’s authors of all time. His works include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964,) Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (1972,) James and the Giant Peach (1961,) Fantastic Mr. Fox (1970,) The Enormous Crocodile (1978,) The BFG (1982,) Matilda (1988,) and Esio Trot (1990.)

Dahl also wrote the screenplays for You Only Live Twice (1967) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968.) Many of his stories were adapted for television as Tales of the Unexpected. His children’s books have been successfully adapted for film and stage. Some parents, teachers, and librarians have objected to Dahl’s works’ anarchic rudeness and violence. He has also been criticized for his anti-Semitism, misogyny, and racism apparent in his works.

Dahl’s autobiography is Boy: Tales of Childhood (1984.) TV film producer Donald Sturrock created Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl (2010.)

Dahl’s first wife was the actress Patricia Neal.

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