Roald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature. Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups. Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible. Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy. Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion. Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
Neat! i love the twits... 'the twits go off to buy guns' was my favorite chapter! i watched the matilda movie the BFG Movie and the read the books. i finished witches
In the beggining we are told that witches are real and hate children. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, it's hard to tell a witch from a non-witch, because they can disguise themselves as anything they like. But we are given a few helpful hints on how to recognize these deadly creatures, through a dialogue. After a brief stay with his grandma, our narrator and his grandma decide to take a vacation, and they head for a stay at a giant, beachfront hotel in southern England. They also bring along the white mice that his grand mother bought for her grandson. While training his mice for the circus , our narrator accidentally finds himself right smack in the middle of the annual meeting of witches. Their leader, who is referred to as The Grand High Witch, and the rest of the witches, take off their disguises and are frighteningly ugly. Our narrator hears them talking about their plan to turn all the children in England into mice using a magical witch formula through a potion. He even watches another young innocent boy, Bruno, get transformed into a mouse, right before his very eyes.Unfortunately, our narrator ends up having the same fate as little Bruno. The witches smell his scent out and, in the blink of an eye, turn him right into a mouse. Because he's a gifted child, he's totally unfazed by the whole thing. He goes straight to his grandmother and, being the most understanding grandma , she loves him even though he's a mouse. She believes him the first time he told her, and together, they decide they will get revenge on the wrecked witches. And do they ever: our narrator sneaks into the room of The Grand High Witch and steals some of the Mouse-Maker formula. After an odd adventure in the hotel kitchen, he manages to pour this so called formula into the witches' soup. Back in the dining room, after all the witches consume the soup, they turn into mice in an instance and proceed to be stepped on, kicked, and squashed to death with frying pans. Back at home, our narrator really has no complaints or regrets about his new life as a mouse. Together with Grandmamma, he decides that defeating the witches of England wasn't enough. They need to do something about the rest of the world's witches. They hatch a plan to track down every last witch and turn each one into a mouse. The two adventurers head out on their way, ready for the challenge ahead of them.