13 phizz-whizzing facts about Roald Dahl
We’ve put together some fantastic facts about Roald Dahl’s life, and boy are there some humdingers…
13th September 2020 marks what would have been Roald Dahl’s 104th birthday!
To celebrate all the brilliant books, playful poems and witty words he gave us over the years, we’ve put together some fantastic facts about the author’s life, and boy are there some humdingers…
Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Roald Dahl primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!
Roald Dahl facts
1. Dahl wrote many of his stories in a little shed at the bottom of his garden
Known as his ‘writing hut’, Dahl sat in a battered old armchair and penned famous tales such as Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
2. He was a fighter pilot in World War II
During a flight in a Gloster Gladiator (fighter plane) in 1940 over Libya, Dahl crash landed in the desert and survived – all because he’d been given the wrong directions!
3. Dahl wrote for around four hours every single day
From 10am – 12pm, and then 4pm – 6pm
4. He never learned how to type
Instead, Dahl preferred to do all his writing in an old red book in pencil.
5. When Roald Dahl died in 1990, he was buried with some of his favourite things
Including a power drill, chocolate, snooker cues and of course, his HB pencils.
6. There are strange mementos still sitting in his writing hut
These include a huge ball made of old chocolate wrappers, and a piece of hip bone that he had to have removed!
Quentin Blake illustrated many of Dahl’s much loved books over the years.
7. Dahl was a spy
During World War II he passed intelligence to MI6 from Washington.
8. Dahl invented over 250 new words
There’s even an official Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary to help you tell your snozzcumbers from your snozzberries.
9. Many of Dahl’s characters were based on people he’d met in real life
The grandmother in The Witches is said to be based on Dahl’s mother, and the little girl in The BFG was named after his granddaughter, Sophie.
10. Dahl was born in Wales, but his parents were Norwegian
As a child, Roald spoke fluent Norwegian and English. He’s even named after the famous Norwegian polar explorer, Roald Amundson.
11. Writing wasn’t his strong point at school
– according to his teachers, anyway!
12. In 1971, a real man named Willy Wonka wrote to Roald Dahl
He was a postman from Nebraska.
13. Roald Dahl was a giant!
Okay, not quite like the ones in his stories, but he was 6 foot 6 inches tall! This earned him the nickname ‘Lofty’ when he served in the RAF.
LEAVE A COMMENT
THANK YOU
Your comment will be checked and approved shortly.
WELL DONE,
YOUR COMMENT
HAS BEEN ADDED!
COMMENTS
wow!
Nice facts and my favourite book is... The BFG
George’s Marvellous Medicine, because it’s SO funny!
Esio Trot is my favourite, because it just is!
Nice!
i like it
hi
its very creative!
thx for the facts
I got the whole collection of Roald Dahl books yesterday, I've already read two and love them! My favourite is Matilda though!
My favorite book: The witches and Charlie and the chocolate factory
I all most read every book he has
Thank you and very interesting
i love roald dahl
very cool
Nice
great!
The fantastic Mr fox
The Fantastic Mr Fox
Ilove reading his books so much
He he
James and giant peach
wow i did not know that
Awesome
COOL!
omg REALLY
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii coooooooooolllllllllllllll
My favourite book was the twits
Wow!
The twits
cool
Love the info
I like this info
I love this facts but they can be shorter
I like Matilda
Thanks for the info
he is a auspicious author and i am a fan of him
LOL!
LOL
Fantastic Mr.Fox !!!!
I like matilda
Matilda
easy to find.
The Twits is my favorite book
My favrourite is Danny The Campion of The world so far. I found out the arthor Roald Dahl when I was in the Op-shop.
My favourite Roal Dahl book is Matilda
My dog is called Sophie my favorite is the bfg
I love Roald Dahl! Matilda is my favourite. And to think writing wasn’t his strong point at school?!
I don't have a favorite because all of them are TRULY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved roald dahl's books , and I have always wanted to meet him. But sadly, he has already past away.
Matilda
#1 fan roald dahl my 3 favourite books are the twits, matilda and james and the jient peach love you roald xoxoxo
We like the BFG because there are amazing twists about the story.
i love reading Roald Dahl books my fav book is the witches :) :] ps. i love you Roald Dahl
Brilliant I love his books
I love all of Roald Dahls books
the bfg is my favourite. and the little girl is called sophie because his granddaughter sophie used to call him the bfs.
#1 fan! My favourite book is Mischief and Mayham. Your the BEST Roald Dahl.
Roald Dahl is AWESOME! My favourite book is Mischief and Mayham.
I love it
My favourite book is CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Well done Roald Dahl
I love Matilda
Love the facts
I love Roald Dahl
My favorite is Matilda because I like the adventure, the Trunchbull and her super power.
love love love thease amazing books so cool
my favourite is the BFG
I love Roald Dahl books, especially The BFG and Matilda
my favourites are probably The BFG because it is so entertaining and funny. next is Matilda because it has so much in it!
All his books are the MOST BEST BOOKS EVER
BFG because its funny and intresting
I have Roald Dahl audio books... all of them!
My favourite Roald Dahl stories are The witches and The BFG
wow that is a lot of facts about one of my fave author Roald Dahl!!!!! :)
My favourite Roald Dahl book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - because i like chocolate, my dad doesn't like the umpa-lumpas
He is my most favourite author of all times.
I love Matilda!
BFG
bfg its awesome
I think number 12 is super cool
THE BFG
my favourite book is the BFG
My fav is Matilda.
Great facts
My favourite book of roald dahl is the witches because it teaches us to not go with strangers.
my favorite roald dahl book is the twits
my favourite Roald Dahl book is the BFG. Fun fact I was born in the same month as Roald Dahl...SEPTEMBER!!!
All of them and thank you for the facts
he was the greatest story teller but how did he die?
I love Roald Daul books!
Matilda is awsome
my favarrite book is the bfg
This is amazing and cool to learn facts about Ronald Dahl !.
cool facts i love it
I like the BFG because he says silly words and blows dreams i wondered where dreams came from.
matilda
i like esio trot
my favourite book is danny the champion of the world
BEST FACTS EVER!!!
matilda
Amazing Roald dahl is one of my favorite authors eve!!!!
I love Matilda.
My favourite Roald Dahl book is Georges Marvellous Medicine!
Loved his books ( especially the bfg) I knew most of these facts but the others were great to know
James and the giant peach!!!
i love roald dahl
Matilda is my favourite book
Charlie and the chocolate factory
Amazing!
My favourite Roald Dahl book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Im planning to become a storyteller when I grow up.
I love the BFG!
My favourite book is the BFG
I really like the book Matilda. I like the way Dahl put the characters together. Miss Trunchbull is super freaky and cool at the same time:-)
I love the BFG because of all the hilarious words!
My favourite Roald Dahl book is Charlie and the chocolate factory because it is all about chocolate and I love chocolate.
My favourite book by Roald Dahl is the bfg
Favourite book? How can I choose just one? The BFG is wonderful but Danny the Champion of the World also holds a special place in my heart! A grown up child of 40!
Roal Dhal is an amazing author. My favorite Roal Dhal book is Matilda.
he is 100 today and i went to school first day and i did not know he died in 1990
My favourite Roald Dahl book is Matilda because it is funny and enjoyable and i love reading just like her
the twits is my fav
CUSTOMIZE YOUR AVATAR