Roald Dahl: A Darkly Humorous Journey into the Unexpected

Roald Dahl (1916-1990)

British Author of Norwegian Descent

Roald Dahl was a British novelist and short story author of Norwegian descent. He achieved fame as a writer for both children and adults.

Early Life and Influences

Some of his most famous works include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, and Kiss Kiss. In 1920, tragedy struck when his 7-year-old sister died from appendicitis, followed a month later by his father's death from pneumonia at the age of 57. Dahl attended several boarding schools, an experience he found unpleasant due to homesickness, leading him to write frequent letters to his mother. The inspiration for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory came during his time studying in Derbyshire, where pupils tasted chocolates.

Wartime Service and Family

In 1939, Dahl joined the Royal Air Force and served as a pilot during World War II. He later married three times and had five children.

Later Life and Death

Dahl passed away from leukemia. His writing is characterized by a dark sense of humor and surprise endings.

Taste and Other Tales

Taste and Other Tales features ordinary people with mysterious, darker sides. The stories often have unexpected endings, leaving the reader guessing.

Taste

A seemingly harmless bet about a wine's name turns deadly serious when a man wagers his daughter's future against two houses. The discovery of cheating by one of the maids leads to outrage.

A Swim

Mr. Botibol makes a drastic decision in "A Swim" after betting on a ship's travel distance. Surprised by improved weather, he jumps overboard to slow the ship down, hoping an elderly woman will raise the alarm. However, her friend dismisses her story, leaving Mr. Botibol's fate uncertain.

Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat

Mrs. Bixby hides her affair with the Colonel from her dentist husband. When the Colonel gifts her a mink coat, she pawns it to conceal its origin. Mr. Bixby finds the pawn ticket and retrieves a small fur neckpiece, while his assistant appears wearing the coat, leaving Mrs. Bixby powerless to protest.

The Way Up to Heaven

Mrs. Foster's fear of being late is exploited by her husband. Left waiting in the car, she hears a noise in their apartment and leaves without him. Returning six weeks later, she finds the apartment empty and the lift stuck. Where is Mr. Foster?

The Leg of Lamb

In "The Leg of Lamb," a pregnant woman kills her husband with a frozen leg of lamb after he announces he is leaving her. After creating an alibi, she serves the murder weapon to the investigating policemen.