Here are some key facts about Roald Dahl:
- Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was a British author famous for his children's books, short stories, poetry, and screenwriting. His books have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide and he is regarded as one of the greatest children's storytellers of the 20th century.
- He was born in Wales to wealthy Norwegian immigrant parents and was named after the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. Norwegian was his first language spoken at home with his family.
- Dahl served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He was seriously injured in a crash landing, which he believed helped spark his creative genius. He later worked as a spy and intelligence officer.
- His children's books are famous for their darkly comic tone and feature villainous adults and kindhearted children. Notable works include "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Matilda," "James and the Giant Peach," "The Witches," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," and "The BFG".
- He also wrote collections of short stories for adults with unexpected endings and macabre themes.
- Dahl wrote many of his stories in a garden shed. He created over 500 new words and character names.
- He was married twice, first to actress Patricia Neal with whom he had five children. His son's brain injury inspired Dahl to help develop a medical shunt device.
- He died in 1990 of leukemia and is buried near his longtime home in Great Missenden, England.
This summarizes important personal, career, and creative facts about Roald Dahl's life and works.
