10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Roald Dahl
By Elisabeth Delp
One of the most beloved childhood writers, Roald Dahl, celebrated his birthday on September 13. And to celebrate, we’re looking into the man behind some of our favorite fantastical stories, including The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Matilda. Read up on Roald Dahl’s fascinating life, with facts found on his official website.
1. Roald Dahl was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
2. He had four sisters: Astri, Alfhild, Else, and Asta.
3. He never went to college. Instead, he worked for Shell Oil Company in Africa.
4. He wrote the screenplay for the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice.
5. He wrote his first children’s story for Walt Disney. It was called The Gremlins, and it didn’t really take off.
6. Roald Dahl and Ernest Hemingway were friendly.
7. He did most of his writing in this shed in his backyard.
8. He named the main character of The BFG after his first grandchild, Sophie.
9. It’s estimated that Roald Dahl invented over 500 new words, several of which are now commonly used.
10. Per his request, Roald Dahl was buried with a power saw, HB pencils, chocolate, red wine, and his snooker cues.
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