Roald Dahl

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Roald Dahl, born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1916, was a British novelist, short-story writer and screenwriter of Norwegian descent, who rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's bestselling authors.

After serving in the British Royal Air Force during World War II, Dahl began writing short stories, initially for adults and then eventually for children. It is these children's stories, including 'James and the Giant Peach', 'Matilda' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' for which he is best-known and loved, though his humorous and macabre adult stories were immensely successful also. These were published in popular magazines such as Harper's, Playboy and The New Yorker, but subsequently collected into anthologies which gained world-wide acclaim and were awarded numerous accolades. He died in November 1990 at the age of 74.

Author's Comment: I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn't be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage.

Nationality: Welsh