Roald DahlAleksandra Pilarz

iAgata Bednarek

IIIb

BiographyRoald Dahl was born on 13th of September in 1916 in

Llandaff, Wales. He had three sisters Astri, Alfhild, and Else. In 1920, when Roald was only three years old, his seven-year-old sister, Astri, died from appendicitis. A few weeks later, his father died of pneumonia at the age of 57.

Dahl was very tall, reaching (1.98m) in his adult life, and he was good at sports, for example he was chosen for the captain of the school squash team, he also played in a football team. Apart from sport, his interests lied in photography. Roald graduated from high school, but instead of going to college, in July 1934, he joined the Shell Petroleum Company. He became a representative of this factory in east Africa.

During the World War II he joined Royal Air Force (RAF) but his carrier finished quite fast, because he was shot over the Libyan Desert and then spent a few weeks in the hospital. He was also a British spy who seduced rich American women and wrote propaganda texts.

He got married twice. First with Patricia Neal in 1953, they had five children: Olivia (when she was seven she died for measles encephalitis in 1962), Tessa, Theo, Ophelia and Lucy. After Olivia’s death he dedicated her one of his books – entitled BFG. In 1983 he divorced from Patricia and in the same year he got married again. His new wife’s name was Felicity ("Liccy") d'Abreu Crosland with whom he spent the rest of his life.

The world knows him as a great writer, publicist and script writer. He published two autobiographies, two stories for adults and many books for children. His best – known works are: “The Witches”, “Matilda”, “BFO”, “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator “and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.

Dahl also wrote texts for Hollywood, created some scripts for serial called “Alfred Hitchcock shows”, and dialogs to “You only live twice”. He died on leukemia in 1990, he had 74.

Galery

Dahl’s literary oeuvre

„The Gremlins”

„The Gremlins” was first Dahl’s book. It was written in 1943 for Walt Disney, who was going to make film based on it, but never did it. Gremlins weren’t ideal and lovely enough to play in child story.

Plot of the book is based on faith in little, malicious creatures which were believed to be responsible for accidents and damages in Royal Air Force. Gremlins sabotage British planes because they took their home – forest.

Gus, the main character, has his plane destructed by gremlin. They should stop fighting and help each other, but what will happen? Eventually gremlins starts to repair and care about British planes. Their ordinary life is shown in Dahl’s book.

“The Gremlins” aren’t as famous as “Matilda” but so many discussions have never been hold about any other Dahl’s book.

„The Witches”

Novel „The Witches” was written in London in 1983 by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. The plot is patterned on personal Dahl’s experienced from his childhood – his parents were Norwegian and grandma really used to tell him stories about witches.

The book is about orphaned boy, who lives with his grandma. Because she is very old and ailing, doctor orders her to go on holidays. Woman insists that grandson have to come with her and there is no choice for physician.

After their arrival it appears that witches has their annual conference in this place. Witches are very dangerous because they look like normal women if you don’t know how to recognise them. They hate children and this year they are planning something special. Witches want to turn all kids into mice. Fortunately our grandma knew a little about them and boy will try to stop villain.

“The Witches” is interesting reading for kids. Roald Dahl slipped a good dose of humour and didacticism into this book. Like in novel “Matilda” he shows relations between parents and their children.

„The Twits”

Novel “The Twits” was written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake in 1979 but it was published three years later.

It tells a story about couple Mr. and Mrs. Twit, who generally are “bad” people. They don’t like children and animals, so sometimes they bake bird pie or they torment pet monkeys. Moreover they are used to playing nasty jokes on each other. But after arrival of Roly-Poly Bird, poor animals decides to get revenge…But is any possibility that usual pets will defeat the Twits?

This novel is called the most disgusting book for children which Dahl ever wrote. But it is also perceived as the most funny and amusing. Many kids all over the world read “The Twits” and die of laughing, even today, 29 years after publishing it.

 

„The Tales of the Unexpected”

“Tales of the Unexpected” consists of sixteen short stories, which earlier appeared in various magazines or in other Dahl’s collections. Who read, can say that the tales seems to be odd a bit. Dread, black humour and unexpected events interweave with each other. On distinctively sketched background, author create situations full of suspense, gradually reveals happening cases till unusual ending. Showing his heroes in dramatic daily life, Dahl exposes ruthlessness of refinement and elegance.

„Revolting Rhymes”

„Revolting Rhymes” is one of the most popular poems collection for children written by Roald Dahl. It was published in 1982 with Quentin Blake’s illustrations. The whole book consists of six “short stories “. They can be perceived as parody or re-interruptions of well known fairy tales. But the truth is Dahl thought up part of them.

In “Revolting Rhymes” we can find: Cinderella Jack and the beanstalk Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Goldilocks Little Red Riding Hood The Three Little Pigs.

The EndThank you for your

attention.