Photo of Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, South Wales on September 13th 1916. His parents were Norwegian, and were called Harald and Sofie. He went to Repton school, in Derbyshire, and left school in 1933.

His first job was in Africa, with the Shell Oil Company. In the second world war he fought as a fighter pilot, and was badly injured when his plane crashed. After the war he worked in America, and soon started writing stories.

His very first children’s book, written in 1943 was called The Gremlins. Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the President of the USA liked it so much he was invited to the White House and became friends with the President, Franklin D Roosevelt.

He wrote a number of books and short stories for adults, many of which were televised as the hugely popular Tales of the Unexpected.

But it was as a children’s author that he found greatest fame and satisfaction, saying “I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers…Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful.” Millions of fans around the world agreed and have chuckled and gasped at his amazing stories. His mesmerising stories, written in sizzling, sparkly language, will lead you into adventures you’ll never ever forget!

From 1945 until his death, he lived at Gipsy House, in Buckinghamshire, where he wrote his famous children’s books. He died in hospital in Oxford, on November 23rd, 1990. His books have continued to be read and loved, and have been made into a number of hit films, including Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You can even visit the Roald Dahl Museum in the village where Dahl lived for most of his life.

In 2009 the Roald Dahl Funny Prize was established in his memory.

Books by Roald Dahl

  • BFG

    BFG

  • Billy and the Minpins

    Billy and the Minpins

  • Boy: Tales of Childhood (Hardback)

    Boy: Tales of Childhood (Hardback)

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

  • Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

    Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

  • Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

    Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

  • Danny the Champion of the World

    Danny the Champion of the World

  • Danny the Champion of the World

    Danny the Champion of the World

  • Dirty Beasts (Hardback)

    Dirty Beasts (Hardback)

  • Esio Trot

    Esio Trot

  • Esio Trot

    Esio Trot

  • Esio Trot (Colour Edition)

    Esio Trot (Colour Edition)

  • Esio Trot (Colour Edition)

    Esio Trot (Colour Edition)

  • Fantastic Mr Fox

    Fantastic Mr Fox

  • Fantastic Mr Fox

    Fantastic Mr Fox

  • Fantastic Mr Fox

    Fantastic Mr Fox

  • Fantastic Mr Fox (Colour Edition)

    Fantastic Mr Fox (Colour Edition)

  • Fantastic Mr Fox (Colour Edition)

    Fantastic Mr Fox (Colour Edition)

  • Fantastic Mr Fox (with free mini-book)

    Fantastic Mr Fox (with free mini-book)

  • George's Marvellous Medicine

    George's Marvellous Medicine

  • George's Marvellous Medicine

    George's Marvellous Medicine

  • George's Marvellous Medicine

    George's Marvellous Medicine

  • George's Marvellous Medicine (Colour Edition)

    George's Marvellous Medicine (Colour Edition)

  • George’s Marvellous Medicine (Colour Edition)

    George’s Marvellous Medicine (Colour Edition)

  • George's Marvellous Medicine with FREE George's Marvellous Mischief Book

    George's Marvellous Medicine with FREE George's Marvellous Mischief Book

  • James and the Giant Peach

    James and the Giant Peach

  • James and the Giant Peach

    James and the Giant Peach

  • James and the Giant Peach

    James and the Giant Peach

  • Matilda

    Matilda

  • Matilda

    Matilda

  • Matilda

    Matilda

  • Revolting Rhymes (Hardback)

    Revolting Rhymes (Hardback)

  • Revolting Rhymes with FREE Revolting Rhymes Mini Joke Book

    Revolting Rhymes with FREE Revolting Rhymes Mini Joke Book

  • Roald Dahl Colour Pair

    Roald Dahl Colour Pair

  • Roald Dahl Quiz Book

    Roald Dahl Quiz Book

  • Roald Dahl's Marvellous Joke Book

    Roald Dahl's Marvellous Joke Book

  • Roald Dahl: Whipple-Scrumptious Words

    Roald Dahl: Whipple-Scrumptious Words

  • The BFG

    The BFG

  • The BFG

    The BFG

  • The BFG

    The BFG

  • The BFG (Film Edition)

    The BFG (Film Edition)

  • The Enormous Crocodile: Book and CD

    The Enormous Crocodile: Book and CD

  • The Enormous Crocodile (Colour Edition)

    The Enormous Crocodile  (Colour Edition)

  • The Enormous Crocodile (Colour Edition)

    The Enormous Crocodile (Colour Edition)

  • The Enormous Crocodile (Hardback)

    The Enormous Crocodile (Hardback)

  • The Enormous Crocodile Picture Book

    The Enormous Crocodile Picture Book

  • The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (Colour Edition)

    The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (Colour Edition)

  • The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (Colour Edition)

    The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (Colour Edition)

  • The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (Picture Book)

    The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (Picture Book)

  • The Magic Finger

    The Magic Finger

  • The Magic Finger (Colour Edition)

    The Magic Finger (Colour Edition)

  • The Magic Finger (Colour Edition)

    The Magic Finger (Colour Edition)

  • The Twelve Days of Christmas with Roald Dahl

    The Twelve Days of Christmas with Roald Dahl

  • The Twits

    The Twits

  • The Twits

    The Twits

  • The Twits (Colour Edition)

    The Twits (Colour Edition)

  • The Twits with FREE The Twits Joke Book Mini Edition

    The Twits with FREE The Twits Joke Book Mini Edition

  • The Witches

    The Witches

  • The Witches

    The Witches

  • The Witches: The Graphic Novel

    The Witches: The Graphic Novel

  • Twits

    Twits

  • Twits

    Twits

  • Witches

    Witches

  • Wonka

    Wonka

Awards

Roald Dahl has won many awards for his books including the Whitbread Award for The Witches in 1983, the Smarties Award in 1990 for Esio Trot and the Blue Peter prize for Matilda in 2000. In 2008 the Roald Dahl estate launched an award in his name – the Roald Dahl Funny Prize.