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Roald Dahl
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Roald Dahl Day - Ten Interesting Facts You May Not Know About The Author
The 13th September is recognised around the world as Roald Dahl Day. Roald Dahl was born in Wales on the 13th September 1916 and would have celebrated his 105th birthday this year. We all know Roald Dahl for his children's books. Whether you are a fan or not you will have heard of his stories or seen the movie versions of the children's classics. Roald Dahl wasn't just a children's author, in fact he didn't start writing until much later on in his life after having children of his own.
There is much more to Roald Dahl and I have gathered ten very interesting facts that you may not know.
1. Dahl was a young RAF pilot in World War 2. He almost died after his plane crashed suffering from skull, nose and spine injuries. He went on to have six surgeries and two hip replacements.
2. He became a spy for William Stephenson during the War.
3. Dahl worked alongside Ian Fleming as well as many others. It is said that due to his friendship with Fleming, Roald Dahl went on to write the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice and then co wrote the screenplay for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Roald Dahl created one of the scariest children's villains of all time, The child catcher.
4. When Roald Dahls daughter was seven she died from measles complications. The virus entered Olivias brain and caused inflammation.
5. Roald Dahl reached a height of 6ft 6 when he became an adult.
6. Roald Dahls first children's book, James and The Giant Peach appeared in the US in 1961. It was banned in several states as people claimed it encouraged disobedience, there were flirtatious characters and it referenced drugs and alcohol.
7. It was 1967 before a British publisher decided to publish James and The Giant peach in the UK. Roald Dahl had to front up half the costs of publishing or the deal was off.
8. Gobblefunk language was created by Roald Dahl and features hundreds of words including ringbeller, trogglehumper, whizzpopping, biffsquiggled and gizzardgulping. An Oxford Roald Dahl dictionary was created in 2016 to mark his 100th birthday.
9. Roald Dahl had a dislike for beards. It was because of his dislike he created The Twits as a campaign against them.
10. At the time of his death, Roald Dahl was planning a 3rd instalment to his popular classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The book was to be called Charlie and The White House.
How many of these facts did you already know? Do you have any others you can share?
We are huge fans of Roald Dahl, both his books and the their movie versions. We first introduced little J to his stories way back in 2015 when McDonalds featured Roald Dahl books in their Happy Meals. I think everyone has their own favourite and for me it's Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory movie. The original starring Gene Wilder just reminds me of when I was little and I just loved it. I would watch it all the time.
What's your favourite book or movie?
Michelle
