mammybearsbooks Blog Roald_Dahl 20210309

Have you ever wondered how many books Roald Dahl actually wrote? For some reason I was sure it was well over a hundred, perhaps due to so many of his stories being depicted on the screen. In reality, he had 48 books published during his lifetime, not including his screenplays and plays.

He is renowned for his children's stories, which number 17 in all, two published after his death. And, ofcourse, his three fabulous poetry books. A little known fact is that "Dirty Beasts" was originally illustrated by artist Rosemary Fawcett...Dahl did not like the illustrations at all and a year later it was released with Quentin Blake's drawings. Look out for the original, it is quite scarce.

Several non-fiction books were written for children..."Boy" and "Going Solo" being two of them. Both of these were autobiographical, giving an insight to Dahl, the man. His time at boarding school sounding very grim indeed. "Mildenhall Treasure" illustrated by Ralph Steadman, a real life story of treasure trove, is one of my all time favourites.

He wrote many short stories, nineteen editions at the last count, often quite macabre, but never dull. A fun fact regarding "Tales of the Unexpected, is that one of the tales was adapted into Quentin Tarantino's segment of "Four Rooms."

Did you know that he wrote "The Gremlins" in 1943? Apparantly, Walt Disney was going to make a cartoon of the work but it did not eventuate. Although he wrote and had published a number of books and screen palys, it wasn't until "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" hit the shelves that he 'rose to fame'. Funnily enough, the true First edition of this book was published in the United States. Look out for it, quite a find.

Roald Dahl brought to children's fiction a grotesque dark comedy and often violent scenarios; tempered with warm sentiments and light whimsical fantasy; making his work truly unique. Most of his children's novels are told from the child's point of view, where adults are frequently the villains, with the one good adult exception. Perhaps his awful experiences at boarding and public school concerning the older students and teachers, is his reference point. Suffice it to say, the children invariably outwit the awful adults, and all turns out well.

If, by chance, you are looking for a copy of a First edition "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", or "Esio Trot", a love story...being the last book published in his lifetime. Or, want a copy of the fabulous illustrations by Ralph Steadman in the "Mildenhall Treasure", look no further than www.mammybearsbooks.com ENJOY!