When I was growing up in New Zealand – probably not much older than Big Sis is now – I discovered something that literally changed my life; Roald Dahl books.
I was given a set for my birthday, and steadily made my way through them – Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Glass Elevator, James and the Giant Peach and Fantastic Mr Fox.
As I turned the pages I was transported to other worlds – places where normal rules didn’t apply, where the ridiculous became real and every corner of your imagination was stretched, and challenged and turned inside out. The stories were clever and hilarious, and dark and sometimes downright disgusting, all rolled into one. I’d never read anything like it, and I was completely and utterly hooked.
By one of those random quirks of life, we’ve ended up living a short drive from where Roald Dahl used to live – where his devilishly genius mind concocted many of those crazy tales he’s most known for.
To immortalise his life and writing career, Dahl’s second wife, Liccy, set up the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in the same town, when you can immerse yourself in interactive displays about his characters and stories, and learn more about his personal history.
It’s a fun, educational activity for kids of all ages (yes, I’m talking about myself!). There’s even a replica of the infamous writing shed he had in the garden of his Great Missenden home, where he’d concoct his incredible tales from his favourite battered armchair, his makeshift desk crafted from a board propped up with rolls of cardboard.
I was fascinated to find out that his writing career only began after crashing his fighter plane in North Africa during World War II. Blinded by the impact and suffering from serious back and head injuries, Dahl was in recovery for the next six months. However, this tragic event had a curious side effect; while laid up in his hospital bed – unable to see – his mind was able to run wild. With that creative mind untethered and completely unleashed, the magic began to happen.
I was talking to OH about his stories, and wondering if – had they released for the first time today – they’d even be allowed in today’s politically correct world. It’s a scary thought that we may never have met Matilda, or flown through the sky in a piece of fruit, or recoiled from the Vermicious Knids (thank goodness for the uncensored 60s and 70s!).
Thanks Roald for the crazy, creative ride, and for helping a little girl from New Zealand travel the entire world (and beyond) without even leaving her bedroom.
THE WEIRD & WONDERFUL WORLD OF ROALD DAHL
• Enter the fantastical mind of this beloved children’s author, at the Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. Visit the museum to find out more about his characters and the inspiration behind them and take a peek inside the replica of Dahl’s writing shed, where he conjured up his craziest tales.
• Immerse yourself in the mind-bending world of Matilda. Follow her adventures, from neglected at home, to picked on at school, to beating the bullies, brought to life in the magical West End musical of the same name. His wildly entertaining tales are often turned into fun stage productions, so keep an eye out.
• Donate to the Roald Dahl Marvellous Children’s Charity. This important organisation provides specialist nurses for seriously ill children – a cause that was very dear to Roald’s heart. A father of five with his first wife, Patricia Neale, his only son, Theo, was hit by a car while being pushed in his pram when he was just four months old. Roald was instrumental in his recovery, even helping invent a shunt that relieved the pressure in his newborn son’s brain.
When his eldest daughter, Olivia, was seven years old, she contracted measles, which caused inflammation in her brain. Tragically, she died, and Dahl went on to be a vocal campaigner for childhood immunisations.
• Rediscover the magical joys of Dahl’s books – which are just as entertaining for adults as they are for kids. Buy from the online shop at the Roald Dahl museum, or search Amazon for the titles.
• Indulge in a Dahl movie marathon. From the nostalgic Gene Wilder version of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, to the updated Johnny Depp remake, the Walt Disney incarnation of the BFG, both unnerving versions of The Witches or the classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (for which Roald Dahl wrote the screenplay). Grab some popcorn and settle in for a timeless treat.
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