Roald Dahl
By: Michael Santich
Early Life
Roald Dahl was born in Wales to Norwegian parents on September 13, 1916. He spent his early years though in Llandaff. Following the death of his dad and older sister, Dahl begins his schooling in Wales. In 1929, Roald Dahl moves to Repton, where he finishes the rest of his schooling. In 1934, 18 years old, he begins working for Shell Oil. After moving to Dar-es-Salaam to work for Shell, Dahl joins the Royal Air Force (RAF) following the outbreak of WWII in 1939. In 1940 he is posted in Libya and is invloved in a plane crash. In August, 1942 he is posted in Washington and completes his first paid piece of writing.
Shell Oil
Dahl begins working for Shell Oil in 1934
Royal Air Force
Dahl joins the RAF following the outbreak of WWII in 1939
Plane crash
In 1940 Roald Dahl is involved in a plane crash in Libya
Later Life
1943 and on is considered his later life because it is really the star of his career as an author. In 1943 Roald Dahl publishes his work on the Gremlins and captures the attention of Walt Disney. In 1953 (37 years old) Dahl marries his wife Patricia Neal and they move to a small cottage in Great Missenden. before the decade is over the Dahl's were blessed with two little girls named Olivia and Tessa in 1955 and 1957. In the early 1960's his son Theo was born. In 1961 he publishes one of his most famous children's books, James and the Giant Peach. In 1962 his oldest daughter Olivia dies. In 1964 he publishes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and he has another daughter named Ophelia. In 1965 his wife suffers from a series of stokes. In 1968 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is released. Throughout the 70's, Dahl publishes much more of his works and sees the first film adaptation of any of his stories with Willie Wonka and the Chocolate factory. The 1980's was probably Roald Dahl's most accomplished decade with the publication of some of his most famous children's books including Matilda. And on November 23, 1990 Roald Dahl, one of the most decorated children's books authors died.
Roald Dahl Video
Brain Pop
James and the Giant Peach
James and the Giant Peach is about a boy who looses his parents in a devastating rhino accident and is forced to live with his two wicked aunts, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge. He becomes extremely lonely. Then one day an old man gives the boy a bag of magical crystals that promise to reverse his misery forever. He accidentally spills the crystals his aunts' peach tree a single peach begins to grow, and grow, and grow some more to the point where he can actually crawl inside the peach himself and from there he begins a new, exiting, surprising, and outrageous, life. This is definitely a great read because while you're reading you never know what to expect. Roald Dahl is such a mastermind when it comes to books and this is definitely an example of it.