Dahl went on to create some of the best-loved children's stories of the 20th century, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and James and the Giant Peach. The book was commissioned by Walt Disney for a film that was never made, and published in 1943. His first children's book was The Gremlins, about mischievous little creatures that were part of RAF folklore.

Its title was inspired by a highly inaccurate and sensationalized article about the crash that blinded him, which claimed he had been shot down instead of simply having to land because of low fuel. The story, about his wartime adventures, was bought by the Saturday Evening Post for $900, and propelled him into a career as a writer. Today the story is published as A Piece of Cake. Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Norwegian descent, who rose to prominence in the 1940's with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's bestselling authors.ĭahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. He was also the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, and many more brilliant stories. Roald Dahl was a spy, ace fighter-pilot, chocolate historian, and medical inventor. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge. Then there's the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Miss ('The') Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will, and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world.įor starters she has two of the most idiotic, self-centered parents who ever lived. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true.

“The Trunchbull” is no match for Matilda!

Matilda original book