Today is Roald Dahl Day, the anniversary of the birth of much-loved British author Roald Dahl, who was born in Cardiff 103 years ago today.
The son of Norwegian parents who settled in Wales, Dahl wrote his first children’s book in 1943 but became a household name in the 1960s with a string of bestsellers now considered classics of children’s literature.
His sometimes twisted tales and penchant for dark humour only seem to have increased his popularity among juvenile readers, with Dahl selling more than 250 million books worldwide and counting, says the BBC.
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The Guardian’s obituary of the author called him a “children’s champion” and said: “He could write stories that children around the world find irresistible and to which they became passionately wedded.”
Several of his best-known books, including The Witches, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, have been adapted for the big screen. The musical Matilda, based on Dahl’s 1988 novel of the same name, is enjoying an award-winning nine-year run on the West End.
Schools across the country are remembering the writer’s work with readings and dress-up days:
To join in the author’s birthday celebrations, take our quiz and find out how much you know about Dahl’s books.
