Book Description
This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled.

"Dahl has the mastery of plot and characters possessed by great writers of the past, along with a wildness and wryness of his own. One of his trademarks is writing beautifully about the ugly, even the horrible."--Los Angeles Times

"An ingenious imagination, a fascination with odd and ordinary detail, and a lust for its thorough exploitation are the...strengths of Dahl's storytelling."--New York Times Book Review ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Roald Dahl for Grownups
This is a great compendium of short stories from the mind of the man who dreamed up Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda, all renowned stories for children.The book pulls together some of the best from several of his collections.

Dahl, who was married for a long time to actress Patricia Neal (The Day the Earth Stood Still), hosted a British television show in 1961 called "Way Out," an anthology show whose episodes are hard to find today.He later hosted another anthology show called "Tales of the Unexpected" (1979-88). Both shows featured a number of Dahl's own stories.Some of Dahl's work has also been adapted to other television programs, notably "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."

The hallmark of Dahl's stories is a good dose of irony, coupled with a macabre sense of humor.Dahl's stories work fantastically well on this level, bringing the reader to laughter in a horrified kind of way.His dialogue is sharp and characters are well drawn and very human, even at their worst.In "Lamb to the Slaughter," for example, a woman kills her cheating husband, then disposes of the murder weapon in a singularly unique way. The reader will feel for her and root for her to get away with it, and she does.Another frequently adapted work, "Man from the South," tells the story of a man who likes to wager with other people's fingers.

For readers who fondly remember Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka from childhood, and who also appreciate poking fun at the dark side of human nature, The Best of Roald Dahl is highly recommended.

For adults or kids, Roald Dahl rocks!
Have loved his kids' books ever since I was a child and am now reading them with my daughter. This one is for grownups only, though! I described this collection to friends by saying "Roald Dahl is the British Flannery O'Connor." If you like dark, funny (sometimes truly twisted) short stories where, in surprise endings, those who scheme and plot always get theirs, you will truly enjoy this book.

The Best of Roald Dahl
As a child, I loved Roald Dahl's books from James and the Giant Peach to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Now that I am a little older, I started to read his mature works. I never go soenthusiastic about reading a book. You get it all with Roald Dahl, humor, suspence, brutality, and horrific stories all end with a surprising twist that you will never suspect. The best reading in years. Highly Recommended. My favorite is The Great Switcheroo. He is definatly one of the greatest writers of our time.

thrilling strories (for adults!)
Very often the writer's skill can be appreciated after reading their short stories. The short form requires discipline and has to catch the reader's attention in a short time. Roald Dahl managed to do this in his short stories (the shorter ones from this collection are the best!). The stories are truly timeless - although written between 1945 and 1965, they have not aged at all. They still keep the readers holding their breath and having goose bumps. There are horrors, great insights into human soul, relationships, perversions, addictions...
I knew only "James and the Giant Peach" before I was recommended this collection by a (British) friend, who I am very grateful to. I have been returning to the stories over and over again. My favorites are probably the most morbid ones, starting with "Man from the South" through "Skin", "Royal Jelly" to "Pig". I like also "Taste" which is more focused on psychology. Anyway, Dahl knew how to find an original subject, how to twist the plot leading to the unexpected and very satisfying finale, and how to use the English language.

Delightfully dark
Roald Dahl is best known for his children's books, namely CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. This book collects some of his best adult short stories from his long career. The dark humor and morality that guides his children's books are amplified here. Outlandish, often unlikable characters often personify one or more of the seven deadly sins and usually pay for it. Dahl's dark sense of humor is fantastic and almost every story ends with a delightfully surprising and ironic twist. Dahl's macabre sensibility might draw comparisons to Poe, but his style is not nearly as laborious. Gems from this collection include: "The Man From the South," (a story that Quentin Tarantino, among others, has paid homage to); "Skin" about a million dollar tattoo; "Pig," in which a vegetarian boy discovers the joys and horrors of meat; a story about a hair-brained wife-swapping scheme; and "The Sound Machine," which allows one to hear the screams of plants. My only complaint about the collection is that the order is chronological and some of the more absurd stories fall in the middle, which makes some of the later, less absurd stories a bit of a letdown. But overall, a fantastic collection. ... Read more

Book Description
(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)

The only hardcover edition of Roald Dahl’s stories for adults, the Collected Stories amply showcases his singular gifts as a fabulist and a born storyteller.

Later known for his immortal children’s books, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG, Dahl also had a genius for adult short fiction, which he wrote throughout his life. Whether fictionalizing his dramatic exploits as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II or concocting the ingeniously plotted fables that were dramatized on television as Tales of the Unexpected, Dahl was brilliant at provoking in his readers the overwhelming desire to know what happens next—and at satisfying that desire in ways that feel both surprising and inevitable.

Filled with devilish plot twists, his tales display a tantalizing blend of macabre humor and the absurdly grotesque. From “The Landlady,” about an unusual boardinghouse that features a small but very permanent clientele, to “Pig,” a brutally funny look at vegetarianism, to “Man from the South,” in which a fanatical gambler does his betting with hammer, nails, and a butcher’s knife, Dahl’s creations amuse and shock us in equal measure, gleefully reminding us of what might lurk beneath the surface of the ordinary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

The Everyman's Roald Dahl review!!!
Once again! the Everyman's Library has outdone any other publisher's job of creating a thorough and precise piece of book history.This is the third book I have purchased and read through Everyman's Library and I sincerely feel their books are the only ones I will buy when creating my own hardcover collection.The quality of paper, the texture of the outer red cover, the beauty of the chronological timeline of events in the author's life, they not only think of it all, but go so far beyond what is called for in a $20 book.If I were a tree that died in the name of paper, I would only hope my flesh would go towards another Everyman's success.
On to Roald Dahl.Best writer Ever.Best collection Ever.Best stories I have Ever read.Best organization of stories contained within a single volume.This book is Paper Gold.My favorite writer and my favorite book publish company smooshed into a magnificent creation that is the perfect size for the average human; hand and lap!!!Touch the hard cover.Feel it upon your cheek.Smell the pages...In the name of all that is holy!

Dahl makes you laugh and...
forces you to look in the mirror. I was introduced to Dahl by my 8th grade English teacher who saw something very dark inside of me (yes, another plug for better teacher pay!). "Pig" gave me nightmares, "Skin" made me wonder about the greed of human beings. What's missing are the "My Uncle Oswald" stories, but this collection is absolutely priceless!

Splendid book
Excellent book from all points of view. Sewn edition, bound and quality of printing. I have another edition of Roald Dahl but unfortunately it's a paperback edition and the pages disappear one after another. I decided never to buy again paperback books. When I saw that Roald Dahl was published in Everyman's Library I immediately decided to order it and I am more than happy with what I received. It's very good for work with my students and I will leave it to my children as well. Many thanks to the publishers.

A great collection of Roald Dahl's short stories!
I actually have a compendium of Roald Dahl's stories in a different edition but when I came across this edition with the inimitable Mr Dahl on the cover I had to buy it. It is a lovely edition that collects all of Dahl's short stories in one book, and I love the fact that it comes with a lovely red satin page marker! A great addition to any library.

Greatest Writer Ever
This collection of stories by Roald Dahl is great. He was one of the best and entertaining writers that composed such original work. I have read some of his stories more than once. I read them and when I am in the mood I pick them up again and read them again. I highly recommend these to anyone who especially has never read anything by Mr. Dahl. ... Read more

Book Description
Roald Dahl's inimitable style and humor shine in this collection of poems about mischievous and mysterious animals. From Stingaling the scorpion to Crocky-Wock the crocodile, Dahl's animals are nothing short of ridiculous. A clever pig with an unmentionable plan to save his own bacon and an anteater with an unusually large appetite are among the characters created by Dahl in these timeless rhymes. This new, larger edition is perfect for reading aloud and makes Quentin Blake's celebrated illustrations even more enjoyable.

"Will elicit a loud 'Yuck.' In other words, children will love them." (Children's Book Review Service) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Beastly fun
This book was a favorite of my children, and is now conquering the hearts of the next generation growing up now. It is hilarious. Roald Dahl is a master.

Cool!
In this book, A clever pig is trying to save his bacon with an anteater.... Just read the book!

A favorite
From a six year olds' point of view.
"It is fun to ready and funny.I love the part of the boy with the talking tummy."

I thought some of the Rhymes might be a little to grody for a little girl, but that is the essence of this little book.She takes delight in reading it aloud to her friends at school.And she never tires of it.She is a Roald Dahl fan andI am over the moon about it.I think Dahl and his books are a great alternative or addition to Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House.But I think ultimately he will outlast many of these other books. He is a classic.

Goodness Gracious Me
A classic piece of Dahl lunacy. Whether you are 5 or 50 this Roald Dahl classic will have you squirming and tittering. Quentin Blake's wonderful illustrations capture Dahl's beasts and bring them hairily to life.

A fun, silly book that children and adults would love
My cousin bought me this book when I was about six and I still love it (I'm 17 now).My whole family thinks it's a hilarious book and we have given it to many of our friends for presents. ... Read more

Book Description

Roald Dahl's hilarious and outrageous novels have made him one of the most popular children's authors of all time. Here, the author himself brings five of his wickedly funny stories to life:

Customer Reviews (1)

Grandkids love these CDs!
I ordered this CD set for my grandkids to listen to.They have "joint custody" of the set.It rotates from house to house by the week.This is part of a circulating set that they listen to a bedtime.On busy nights, when Mom and Dad don't have time to read, this satisfies their desire for a bedtime story, plus it lasts longer than a short story or two.They sometimes drift off to sleep listening to the CDs.With 11 grandkids, this comes in handy.I'm very glad I bought this set and am so impressed that it is read by the author.This way we get the intended inflection and each nuance. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was a prickly, colorful character who wrote maliciously funny short stories for adults (The Best of Roald Dahl) as well as better-known works for children (James and the Giant Peach). As he relates in the introduction, he started the research for this book by making a call to the celebrated ghost-story anthologist/writer, Lady Cynthia Asquith. He then went to the British Museum Library, andread a total of 749 tales before selecting 14 for this anthology. His criterion: "Spookiness is, after all, the real purpose of the ghost story. It should give you the creeps and disturb your thoughts." Included here are not only acknowledged classics by Robert Aickman, Edith Wharton, J. S. Le Fanu, andF. Marion Crawford, but also tales by lesser-known writers such as L. P. Hartley, Rosemary Timperley, Jonas Lie, Mary Treadgold, and A. M. Burrage. The Washington Post writes, "Dahl's taste, it will surprise no one, is impeccable." Book Description

Customer Reviews (15)

Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories
Roald Dahl has put together fourteen of his favorite ghost stories by authors such as E. F. Benson, Rosemary Timperley, and Edith Wharton. I definitely suggest this book for people that around thirteen years old because some of the content may not be appropriate for ages fewer than thirteen. Every one of the stories sucks you in immediately although the scares may not happen towards the end. But all of the stories have a little spook in the starting. Many of the stories involve invisible friends and child friendly stories. They will most definitely give make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and a chill run down your spine. They are good read to a group or by you either way they are definitely a late night page-turner. Although none of the stories are by Roald Dahl he definitely chose some of the scariest stories that could fit into this 235-page book with 14 stories. My favorite stories in the book are: In the tube since it was very descriptive and showed a lot of emotion, and Ringing the Changes one of the spookiest stories in my opinion takes place on this couples honey moon in a small town called Holihaven, when they arrive there are church bells that are continuously ringing for almost the entire story! The genre of course is short story's, fiction even though I would call it horror. I don't want to give away the story but you may find some unnerving cliffhangers in this book! This book relates to some of the books I've read such as the Hardy boys series because at the end of every chapter there is a cliffhanger that urges you to continue reading onto the next chapter. All of these authors have their own individual styles of writing and bring in a new plot every time to each story. Some stories you might also enjoy if you enjoyed this book are: The Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine, The Hardy boy's series (more mystery) by Franklin W. Dixon.

Roald Dahl's sexist introduction
I think that Roald Dahl was half-kidding when he made outrageous overgeneralizations about women writers not being able to write great plays or short stories.I like that Roald Dahl was not always politically correct about sexist comments (and I am a woman).At least he was honest about what he liked and didn't like.

Roald Dahl explores the differences between the sexes in his writing all the time and it is obvious to me that he loved women (his mother did stick him in a horrible boarding school when he was 8 years old though!)Read the Henry Sugar short story collection for more background on why Mr. Dahl was the way he was.He was last of the Imperialist, white collar, British generation,; patriarchal drones sent overseas to run things in Africa, etc.

Oh, and this is a superb anthology.

Classic ghost stories you shouldn't miss
I loved the high caliber writing in this book with every story that was chosen to be in this book. I agree with his assessment about female writers writing the best short ghost stories. Even though his praise is a bit bitter, he obviously admires women that could write. The most poignant and goose-flesh inducing stories in the collection for me was "Harry" by Rosemary Timperly and "Playmates" by A.M. Burrage. Anyone with a love for the excellent writing and ghost stories or story telling in general should pick this book up and read it.

A great present for a teenager
Anything from Dahl is wonderful, even if it's not his.

Very Good Collection!

Contents:

***Introduction by Roald Dahl......11

***W.S by L.P. Hartley......21

***Harry by Rosemary Timperley......33

***The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith......47

***In the Tube by E.F. Benson......63

***Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley......78

***Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie......81

***Playmates by A.M. Burrage......90

***Ringing the Changes by Robert Aickman......115

***The Telephone by Mary Treadgold......146

***The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan Le Fanu......154

***The Sweeper by A.M. Burrage (Ex-Private X)......162

***Afterward by Edith Wharton......179

***On the Brighton Road by Richard Middleton......210

***The Upper Birth by F. Marion Crawford......214
__________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _________

A great collection of very interesting ghost stories to be read and then re-read again and again!

It seems to me a better recommended reading age would be something like 13 yrs and above.

Originally, I thought that this was a book of stories all written by Roald Dahl himself... that was the impression I got from the title.

Anyway, I recommend this to you! ... Read more

Book Description
Matilda is a sweet five-year-old with extraordinary mental powers—powers she uses to teach her school’s evil head mistress a lesson she’ll never forget! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

"That is the Trunchball's Great Secret..."
One of the last novels written before Roald Dahl's death, "Matilda" reads almost like a goodbye, with a thank-you to all the authors that have touched Dahl during his lifetime - the text even includes a reading list of books recommended to Matilda - and through her, to the reader. And Matilda herself, despite being female, could very well be a reflection of Dahl himself as a child: a precocious bookworm with a fascination with words, people and places. As such, "Matilda" holds a special place in the canon of Dahl's literature for children, and Matilda herself is one of those shining characters that you simply wish was a real person and your friend. It is a rare thing indeed for an author to not only create a character who has practically no faults, and yet never become a goody-two-shoes or implausibly perfect, but to give her a remarkable gift (in this case, her hyper-intelligence) and make it seem less important than her goodness, her loyalty, her sense of justice and her love of learning.

Matilda Wormwood is born to two rather awful parents who have no interest whatsoever in their young daughter, instead pouring all their attention into their work, (for Mr Woodworm) bingo, (for Mrs Wormwood) and occasionally their first-born son Michael. However, they are mean-spirited enough to take umbridge at the sight of Matilda indulging her great love for reading. To get back at them (and to keep her own sanity) Matilda engages in a series of practical jokes every time her parents are beastly or dishonest - which happens on a rather regular basis.

But all of that changes when she starts school and Matilda meets the two most important women in her life: the lovely Miss Honey and the terrible Miss Trunchball. The gentle and timid Miss Jennifer Honey is Matilda's adored teacher, whereas Miss Trunchball is the Headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary who terrifies student and teacher alike. Miss Trunchball may be a rather unfortunate stereotype of a butch, unattractive, athletic woman, but as an incarnation of psychotic feminine rage, she comes second only to Lewis Carroll's Queen of Hearts. More a force of nature than an actual person, she's sure to send a shudder down any child's spine - however bad your teacher is, you can be sure she's not *this* bad!

It soon becomes clear that the students of the school are waging a war against Miss Trunchball, one that Matilda is all-too-keen to become a part of when she realizes that there is a mysterious link between her beloved Miss Honey and the tyrannical Trunchball. And it just so happens that around this time, Matilda finds that she has a remarkable ability: to move things with her mind. Being a moralistic girl as well as an intelligent one, she soon realizes that she now has the perfect tool with which to restore Miss Honey to her former fortune and deliver Miss Trunchball her just desserts.

The text is full of allusions to other books and stories, making it a remarkably rich read for a children's book (and will hopefully get young readers interested in other books - as I'm sure was Dahl's intention) and of course includes plenty of Dahl's trademark love for the grotesque and macabre, components that have always made him controversial in the adult community, and beloved in the child's world. But even more in "Matilda", there is a sense of the spiritual and the sublime - Matilda's emerging powers seem to not only stem from her intelligence, but from her great spirit as well, particularly when she describes her powers as feeling like: "flying past the stars on silver wings." With justice served in the guise of a tiny five year old (captured perfectly in the illustrations by long-time Dahl collaborator Quentin Blake), and an ending that manages to be both happy and bittersweet, "Matilda" is a must for any children's bookshelf.

Delightful
It is a delightful book, full of fun and laughter. If you have children, you must get it.

A little girl named Matilda
A Little girl named Matilda

The book I am reviewing is Matilda by Roald Dahl. Matilda is a story about a little girl named Matilda who is mistreated by her parents.
She is very smart and wants to go to school. When her parents finally let her go she meets some very interesting people.

The story is about Matilda, her parents, her teacher and her principal.
Most of the book takes place in Matilda's house, her teacher's house, her principal's and her school. One of the themes in this story is that life isn't always easy. One of my favorite things in this book are that good things happen to the good people and the bad people too. I really recommend this book for anyone that is looking for a good and funny story.

hysterical fun
I feel sad for anyone who has seen the movie before reading this book because it certainly doesn't do it justice. Dahl is by far my favorite children's author and he never runs out of witty hilarity that's peppered throughout each book. Matilda is no exception. Dahl puts a spin on the orphaned child motif by empowering children.He also spices it up with a big of magic that's directly connected to Matilda's love of reading and her knack for creative problem solving. Matilda's lovable, humble, and a wonderful model for young readers who, well...love to read.

Exquisit Child
I adored Matilda. She was born into an abusive family with dim-witted parents. All they do is watch t.v and never pay attention to Matilda. She goes to the library every single day, and checks out tons of books to take home, things like Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, Moby Dick, Oliver Twist, ETC. Her parents are so annoyed, that they send her off to school, where Ms. Trunchball, the headmistress, is very ugly, mean, and nasty to children. She hates them all. But Matilda soon falls in love with her teacher, Ms. Honey, and then she developes an exquisit power to move things with her eyes. I would love a power like that. I borrowed it off my teacher's book-shelf, took it home, and din't return it until the very last day of school! I would rather read this than watch t.v~! ... Read more

Amazon.com
This Roald Dahl classic tells the scary, funny and imaginative tale of a seven-year-old boy who has a run-in with some real-life witches! "In fairy tales witches always wear silly black hats and black cloaks and they ride on broomsticks.But this is not a fairy tale. This is about REAL WITCHES. REAL WITCHES dress in ordinary clothes and look very much like ordinary women. They live in ordinary houses and they work in ordinary jobs. That is why they are so hard to catch."Witches, as our hero learns, hate children. With the help of a friend and his somewhat-magical grandmother, our hero tries to expose the witches before they dispose of him. Ages 7-12.Book Description
Meet a hero, a wise old grandmother, and the most gruesome, grotesque gang of witches imaginable! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (248)

I'll never outgrow Dahl!
The Witches is an old favorite that I've been reading and rereading since elementary school. You just can't go wrong with Dahl and The Witches is my absolute favorite of all his children's stories. It's a fun romp taking place in our own world where REAL WITCHES exist.

Witches, in Dahl's story, are vicious, dangerous and bloodthirsty creatures who hate children with unmatched fury and whose dearest desire is to wipe them all off the face of the earth. There goal is to do away with one child a week and the worst part is that they look just like ordinary women. But there are certain signs, as our unnamed, seven year-old narrator's grandmother informs us, that can help you tell a real witch from an ordinary lady. And it just so happens that the ladies of Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, staying at the same seaside hotel as our hero and his grandmother, display all the signs.

This original, quirky little book is perfect for readers of all ages. It has just the right amount of scary details to fascinate a child reader without being to creepy to give them nightmares (such as when Grandmamma tells about a little girl she knew who, after a run-in with witches, became a still figure in an oil painting that grew old and eventually faded away) and enough creative and ingenious details to hold an adult reader's interest.

If you missed out on The Witches growing up, it's not too late! Grab a copy and enjoy the sheer imaginativeness of Dahl's writing.

FINALLY THE TRUTH!
At last someone has written a factual account of the vile, dispicable, scheming harridans known as witches. Having been exposed to the wiccan religion from an early age I know it all to be true! If this book can keep one dear child from turning to this pagan religion, it has served a grand purpose. P.S.- Check out all the one star reviews by the pagans. Quite entertaining. Apparently a requirement for joining is an inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy.

Several others have already told you
What some PEOPLE do not seem to understand this is a FANTASY book. Its not saying real witches are like this. I went through and read all the 1 star comments and felt like I was going to be sick. I guess these men and women do not understand a book to be FANTASY. "Oh its so horrible it gives a wrong depiction on witches" Yada Yada Yada. Get over yourselves.... ITS A FICTION BOOK!!!!

Funny situations and an amazing plot, Review by EC, age 11
The Witches has funny situations and an amazing and adventurous plot. It is about witches that hate children so much that they will work terrifying spells to get rid of them.The main character, a nine-year old boy, and his grandmother must figure out how to destroy the Grand High Witch and all of the other witches. His plan is almost foiled when he is turned into a mouse. Now the challenge is to overcome his difficulty and try his hardest to defeat the witches.
- E.C.P.

Witches, witches everywhere
Roald Dahl is the author of many enchanting books for young readers. Some of his best of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Matilda," and "The BFG." Although "The Witches" isn't his best work, it is a fun story about a seven year old boy who finds himself in a hotel full of witches and not jus any witches mind you but witches trying to turn children into mice. To save everyone, the boy has to get stop the witches and get ride of their formula that turns children into mice. A wonderful book to read. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Anyone who has ever read James and the Giant Peach or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory knows that Roald Dahl is a man capable of working magic on young people. The wonderfully weird worlds he evokes are so perfectly in tune with children's imaginations that--PRESTO!--he has completely enchanted kids (and adults, we admit) around the world.

This splendidly illustrated treasury--which we discovered with unfettered glee--showcases excerpts from the above books, along with short stories, rhymes, memoirs, unpublished poetry, and personal letters. A host of Dahl's best-loved characters are here, from the Enormous Crocodile to Willie Wonka. The whole shebang is fabulously illustrated by Quentin Blake, Ralph Steadman, and a myriad of other fine artists. Young Roald Dahl fans will devour this book eagerly, and those who have never met Charlie Bucket, Matilda, or the Vermicious Knids will want to get their hands on everything he's ever written. (All ages)Book Description
This extraordinary collection takes readers on a fascinating journey into Dahl's unique imagination. At over 400 pages, it contains excerpts from Dahl's best-loved fiction for children and his autobiographical material. There are stories, rhymes, and memoirs as well as unpublished poetry and letters. Lavishly produced and illustrated in full-color, it features artwork by such prominent illustrators as Quentin Blake, Lane Smith, and Raymond Briggs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Wonderful assortment of Dahl's childrens work
This is a beautiful book full of colorful illustrations, which is always a major plus, most of which are by Quentin Blake. This has some of Roald Dahl's poetry (such as his hilarious fairy tale retellings), short stories, excerpts from his children's novels, recipes, letters from fans, and other nice little tidbits, like a sheet Dahl filled out about his birthday, favorite color, food, etc. I think this book is well worth the money, because I got this a few years ago and haven't grown out of it since!

A superb, fantastic, and wonderful book
This book, like all other books of Rohld Dahl, is detailed, humorous, and just plain good. I spent 9 hours just sitting in a chair, reading this book, defanatly another fanatic book of Rolhd Dahl. I loved it. WOW!

What I liked and didn't like about the Dahl Treasury
I am nine and a half years old.I liked the variety of stories and poems, but I was frustrated at first because I thought I would be reading entire stories.Instead, I found that the Treasury included only chapters of some stories.Short stories, like the Enormous Crocodile, were entirely included.

This book left me searching for the complete works of Roald Dahl.

an awesome book
The Roal Dahl Treasury is really great because aside from the extracts, it includes poems, letters, and true stories from Roald's past. An excellent book for all ages.

Excellent author, but doesn't include complete stories.
My daughters favorite author is Roald Dahl, but she was really frustrated when we got the book because it contains mostly excerpts from various books he has written. It would be much better if it had complete stories.We had to go out and buy the full versions of the stories. It is marketed as acomplete treasury but falls short.The illustrations are neat. ... Read more

Book Description
Did you know that Roald Dahl loved chocolate, but never ate spaghetti? Or that he was a terrible speller? Or that he had four sisters? D Is for Dahl is an A to Z collection of facts, trivia, and zany details that bring Roald Dahl and his memorable characters to life. Filled with Quentin Blake’s illustrations plus black-and-white photos, each spread is exploding with information about the creator of Willie Wonka, James, and Matilda—from his family tree to the exact type of pencil he used to write his stories. Perfect for devoted fans and Dahl newcomers alike, this is a gloriumptious guide to the world of Roald Dahl. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Dahl, biography, humor
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 10) for Reader Views (2/08)

"D is for Dahl: A gloriumptious A-Z guide to the world of Roald Dahl," by Roald Dahl and Wendy Cooling, is not a kindergartner's A-B-C book but a quirky alphabetized biography.This book is full of fun, humorous, eclectic and even inspirational facts about Roald Dahl.

Despite its unusual format, the reader will be entertained and learn a lot about one of the world's best children's authors.The entries are brief but meaty. For example, under F there is an entry for "Freezer."The paragraph describes how Roald Dahl stretched his shoes by filling his shoes with plastic bags full of water and then putting the shoes in the freezer.Making the book even more appealing are funny illustrations by Quentin Blake, who illustrated most of Roald Dahl's books.There are also photos, a copy of his report card, and a few recipes.

Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was born in Great Britain to Norwegian parents.He wrote twenty-seven children's books, including the well-loved "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "The Witches" and "James and the Giant Peach."He was very critical of his own work and was only truly pleased with Matilda.He had an excellent sense of humor and said that his funniest moment was being born.

My favorite part of the book was learning that Roald Dahl loved chocolate so much and the fact that he thought that kids should learn the dates of when all the greatest candies were made instead of dates in history.He once said "If I were a headmaster I would get rid of the history teacher and get a chocolate teacher instead."

I would recommend this book to fans of Roald Dahl's books. People who want to be writers would also enjoy this book because it talks about how he got his ideas for books and how he planned his daily routine to get his writing done."D is for Dahl" was a great book, and I hope that every one who reads it likes it as much as I did.

Fun new info on a great author
This is a great review of Dahl's life and career in a really fun format that will make it fun for kids.By making it an "alphabet book" his life and times are peppered with bits from his books, funny words he invented, and lots of great illustration from Blake.I've been reading it just a bit at a time in order to savor it, because it's worth it.This is a must have for Dahl fans of any age. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Feeling hungry? How about some Snozzcumbers for a snack, or a Fresh Mudburger for dinner? Or perhaps you're in the mood for Stink Bugs' Eggs. Fans of Roald Dahl will recognize his peculiar culinary inventions from his many books--now, these dubious delights are collected all together in Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes, a compendium of dishes that sound worse than they really are. Stink Bug Eggs, for example, are really deviled eggs with some food coloring and a special, added ingredient (parmesan cheese or asafetida) to make them particularly aromatic. Mr. Twit's Beard Food consists of mashed potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms, and cocktail franks cunningly arranged. Each recipe is simple to make, many are delightfully disgusting to contemplate, but all are easy on the palate. Roald Dahl himself would have been delighted to eat these ravishingly revolting recipes.Book Description
Who but Roald Dahl could think up such mouthwatering and deliciously disgusting foods as Lickable Wallpaper, Stink Bugs Eggs, and Eatable Pillows?Now theres a practical guide to making these and other delicacies featured in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,James and the Giant Peach, and Dahl's other books, with easy, step-by-step recipes that range from the delectable to the truly revolting. Quentin Blake's illustrations combine with full-color photographs of the luscious results to perfectly capture Roald Dahls wicked sense of fun."Deliciously playful.Dahl, one suspects, would have been tickled." -- Publishers WeeklyThe late Roald Dahl was one of the most beloved storytellers of all time. Quentin Blake has illustrated more than a dozen books by Roald Dahl. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Fun and inspirational!
We got this cookbook for our 7 year old daughter for Christmas because she is a huge fan of Roald Dahl's books.She instantly went crazy for this cookbook, and even her 3 year old brother is fascinated by it.The recipes are so much fun, and the pictures are a wonderful combination of food photos and illustrations.We've already enjoyed the book so much that our daughter has decided to have a Roald Dahl party for her birthday in March, featuring snacks and foods from the cookbook.We are even planning on making goody-bags for the guests with several yummy treats inside.I'm so glad we found this cookbook and can enjoy it as a family!

Try the bird pie!
My family and I have had loads of fun making Roald Dahl's recipes. We are eager to try all of them and think it is an ingenious accompaniment to Roald Dahl's wonderful books. It is wonderful because it has everything from the snozzcumbers from The BFG to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's lickable wallpaper. It is a great shame that Roald Dahl is not here today to be able to cook from this book.

Delicous recipes it is!
Roald dahl has finally made a little much of a cookbook. Try some of his awesome recipes and taste it. It's awfully delicous!!!

Scrumdiddlyumptious
A total blast. My friends loved the candy coated pencils best. Great for sucking during class. A fun book. With easy to follow instructions. Even my 9 year old sister loves it. YUMMY!

Willy Wonka never had it this good !
Roald Dahl, the famous story teller. Who hasn't read his all time classic: "Charlie and the Choclate Factory" and its follow up "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" and drool over the many different types of candy featured in these books? From Hot Ice Cream You Can Eat On Cold Days, Candy Pencils You Can Eat In Class and Marshmallow Pillows, this book features all the wonderful treats that were described in Roald Dahl's books.

Over fifteen different recipes, this books teaches you how to make these wonderful dishes. Step by step, making these treats couldn't be easier !

Illustrated by Quentin Blake with his lively pictures, once you have made the foodstuff, sit back, relax and enjoy the treats with your favourite Roald Dahl book. ... Read more

Book Description
Charlie and Willy Wonka are back, this time in a fantastic journey to outer space in their glass elevator. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Charlie and the great glass elevator
My granddaughter loves the first book of this Charlie and the Chocolate factory and I thought she might like this one. She could not stop reading the first book. ... Read more

Amazon.com
When poor James Henry Trotter loses his parents in a horrible rhinoceros accident, he is forced to live with his two wicked aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. After three years he becomes "the saddest and loneliest boy you could find." Then one day, a wizened old man in a dark-green suit gives James a bag of magic crystals that promise to reverse his misery forever. When James accidentally spills the crystals on his aunts' withered peach tree, he sets the adventure in motion. From the old tree a single peach grows, and grows, and grows some more, until finally James climbs inside the giant fruit and rolls away from his despicable aunts to a whole new life. James befriends an assortment of hilarious characters, including Grasshopper, Earthworm, Miss Spider, and Centipede--each with his or her own song to sing. Roald Dahl's rich imagery and amusing characters ensure that parents will not tire of reading this classic aloud, which they will no doubt be called to do over and over again! With the addition of witty black and white pencil drawings by Lane Smith (of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs fame), upon which the animation for the Disney movie was based, this classic, now in paperback, is bursting with renewed vigor. We'll just come right out and say it: James and the Giant Peach is one of the finest children's books ever written. (Ages 9 to 12) Book Description
Roald Dahl's children's classic will be rediscovered with wonder and delight in this handsome gift edition with all-new black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott Honor Book artist Lane Smith (who also designed the characters for the Disney animated film).  How James escapes from his miserable life with two nasty aunts and becomes a hero to his new insect family, including Miss Spider, the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the Centipede (with his 21 pairs of gorgeous boots), is Dahl-icious fantasy at its best"This newly-illustrated edition of an avowed children's favorite has all the makings of a classic match-up: Milne had Shepard, Carroll had Tenniel, and now Dahl has Smith...author and illustrator were made for each other, and it's of little consequence that it took almost 35 years for them to meet" --Kirkus.  


From the Hardcover Library Binding edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (189)

We just love this book!
I can't say enough good things about this book.My kids & I just love it.The chapters are short, which makes it a bit easier for the kids to read, and the story is so engaging it has all all on the edge of our seats, waiting to hear what will happen next.Such a fun book!

Book review
Ever been in a giant flying peach? James and the giant peach by Roald Dahl tells about a boy who's parents get eaten by a giant rhino, goes to live with his evil aunts, then rolls away in a giant peach. To begin, His parents take him to the London Zoo when only to encounter a loose rhinoceros. The rhino eats James' parents to leave him on the streets. Then, he goes to live with his evil aunts, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge. They treat him very badly and don't let him play with other kids. Finally, an old man comes and gives James some magic crystals. Then a giant peach grows, James crawls in the peach to find some unusually large insects. They then roll away in a giant peach in hope of finding a better place.
Read this book to find out what happens to James and the giant peach

A fantastic interpretation
I bought this for my 5-year old son 3 weeks ago and we haven't stopped listening to it.Roald Dahl has a beautifully warped view of the world, with parents killed tragically, evil aunts and innocent, precocious children.James is a wonderful example.Jeremy Irons brings real range to the interpretation of the characters, so we all - parents and child - find ourselves chuckling as we drive and listen (and will do for a long time to come).A treat for children (and their sainted parents also).

The Best Book Ever
James and the Giant Peach is the best book I have ever read!It is about a boy named James whose parents were killed by a rhinoceros who escaped from the London Zoo.Because he no longer had parents, James was forced to live with his two aunts who were very mean to him.

One day when he was working, an old man gave James some magic green beans.If James swallowed the green beans, nothing bad would ever happen to him.James accidently dropped the green beans in the dirt and they disappeared into the earth.

There were eight beans and seven insects suddenly became very large after they ate the beans.James was wondering what happened to the eighth bean.It hit an old peach tree and a giant peach grew on the tree.

James and the insects became friends and they lived in the giant peach together for a day.They all realized that they had to escape from the James' horrible aunts.They cut the peach off the tree and it went rolling away with James and his friends.It rolled off a cliff and landed in the ocean.

After this point, James had many adventures inside the peach with hisinsect friends.They find a way to escape from sharks, they escape from "cloud men" who throw rocks at them, and finally, they make a way to land safely in busy New York City.

Enjoy all these exciting advenutres yourself by reading this great book!

James and the Giant Peach
James and the Giant Peach, by RoaldDahl

Have you ever wanted to fly in a giant peach with insects. The book I read was James bad a giant peach. This is about a rich kid with nice parents living next to kids in a beach. Until his parents get killed. So James has to maove with his two creepy aunts. The aunts are mean abd make James do all the chores. UntilOne day a guy gives James majic worms abd told James that they make things grow or grant a wish. So James tries to wish to bring his parents back so he could go home. But the worms escape and go into this little peach tree and it starts to grow. The next day he wakes up and sees the peach big and go's over there. He starts to make a hole and crawls inside and turns cartoonish and falls to see insects insideand become best friends.Jamesis on his way home NY. Here comes James and the Giant Peach. I like this book because it is adventures one. It was an easy book to connect to the characters. I understand how people feell and see things in the book. There were a lot of cliff hangers. I didn't like about this book is that it had no horror. If you like adventures book, then you should read this book. ... Read more

Book Description
George’s grouchy grandma needs a taste of her own medicine, and George knows just the right ingredients to put into it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Roald Dahl is a great choice!
You cant go wrong with Roald Dahl, we've (my self and my kids,4 and 6) been pleased with every story purchased. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Not just for sleepless nights
Roald Dahl has a reputation for being a great writer of disturbing, perverse short stories.This reputation doesn't quite do him justice.Yes, more than a fair share of his stories explore the darker side of human nature, but that's not what he's all about.I think it's more fair to say that he's a talented short story writer, regardless of genre.

Take for example "The Great Automatic Grammatisator."There are no gruesome deaths, no wives murdering their husbands, etc.But it's still a great story, and vintage Dahl.Here he pokes fun at his own profession, inventing a machine that can spit out full-length novels at the press of a button, simply by pulling from a list of generic characters, plot structures, and vocabulary lists.The commentary on the state of the writing profession is not very subtle, but it's hilarious nonetheless.

And that brings us to Dahl's wonderful sense of humor.Take, for instance, the following passage from the same story:"There's a trick that nearly every writer uses, of inserting at least one long, obscure word into each story.This makes the reader think that the man is very wise and clever."When asked where the machine stores all these words, the response is:"In the word-memory section," he said, epexegetically.

Or how about this exchange in "Pig," when a young man goes to the town doctor to request a death certificate for his recently-passed great aunt."My God, is she dead?""Certainly she's dead.If you will come back home with me now I will dig her up and you can see for yourself.""How deep did you bury her?""Six or seven feet down, I should think.""And how long ago?""Oh, about eight hours.""Then she's dead.Here's the certificate."

There are many gems in this collection, and not just the ones that you've probably already read like "Lamb to the Slaughter" and "The Way Up to Heaven."Read them all; only a few are disappointing."Dip in the Pool" is fantastic, as is "The Great Switcheroo."

The one criticism I have of Dahl is that his children's fiction alter-ego tends to make an appearance every once in a while.A handful of his stories are either too simplistic or just plain silly, like they were written for a nine-year-old audience.Sorry, but I can't get into a story about a woman who finds a stray cat and thinks that the reincarnated spirit of Liszt is trapped inside.And occasionally the prose and dialog fail to connect with the mind of an adult reader.But that's okay.Dahl isn't striving for any fancy literary awards.His goal is to entertain, not exercise the mind.

Most of the contents of 3 separate collections
Dahl is probably most famous for his stories for children: CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, and MATILDA come to mind.

None of the short stories herein are that kind of story. At least four first appeared in PLAYBOY, and another 7 in THE NEW YORKER. Some are risque, but not all; one would have been suitable for ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE, and indeed was adapted to become one of the strongest episodes of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS ("Lamb to the Slaughter").

Specifically, this omnibus contains:
- all but 2 stories from Dahl's collection SOMEONE LIKE YOU (the two missing stories are "My Lady Love, My Dove" and "The Sound Machine");

- 9 of the 11 stories from KISS KISS (the missing pair are "Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat" and "Parson's Pleasure"); and

- 3 of the 4 stories from SWITCH B**** (the missing story, unfortunately, is the first uncle Oswald story, "The Visitor", which provides the backstory for how the old lecher's diaries came into the author's hands, as well as Oswald's experiences in the Sinai with a Syrian female leper).

Consequently, see reviews of the 3 individual collections for detailed discussion of all the stories herein. To summarize, the OMNIBUS makes an interesting read for an adult who can stand some macabre stories (including mysteries where justice may not be done), but this is *not* suitable bedtime reading for little children.

Wickedly devious
I ordered the Omnibus intending to surprise my 8 year old daughter who has some of his famous children's books. When I picked it up at the store, I was surprised to learn that some of the stories had appeared in The New Yorker, and ... The Playboy! These are undoubtedly adult versions of his children's stories, with the same wickedly devious mind behind them. If, an 8 year old Charlie concocts a bitter medicine with household chemicals for his nagging grandmother, one can guess what he would do with highly potent bee protein as an adult bee keeper. You certainly need a wicked sense of humour to enjoy these stories but not since Damon Runyon's On Broadway was I so captivated by the short story. Recommended reading but certainly not for children!

great in that sick and twisted way
i still love reading "the witches" ... but for a little more grownup roald dahl humor, the omnibus is great reading. and as it promises, it is good bedtime story-length (though you get so drawn in that it may end up stay up reading instead of stopping after one story)

Should be required reading for any true literature fan
Having been a devoted fan of Roald Dahl's from childhood classics like "Danny the Champion of the World" and "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" collection, I had had little exposure to his adult stories until happening upon this book recently. Lucky me for finding it. Every story was an incredibly inventive blend of character and plot, with a twist to every ending, each within the confines of a few short pages. Few other authors can match Dahl's creativity and imagination, Raymond Carver being the only other author I can think of whose short stories and ideas are as impressive in both style and substance. Do yourself a favor and pick this up - an absolute gem. ... Read more

Book Description
Mr. and Mrs. Twit hate everything, including their trained monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, who now want revenge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (127)

An Awful Book
I have read most of Roald Dahl's books and this has got to be the worst of them.The plot goes no where fast and the characters are indeed twits like the title implies.Good thing it was so short or there would be no way I would have finished it ever!!!!! I hate this book don't go near it with a 39 and 1/2 foot pole.

Hilarious!!!!
The book is very funny, with two very nasty people getting their just desserts at the hands of some mischievous monkeys. Really entertaining!!!!!!!

Ramah, NM Student reviews
I thought that the "The Twits" was a very dumb book. "The Twits" had no concept at all, and the whole idea of the book was horrible. Personally, I think that "The Twits" was not one of Roald Dahl's best books.


I thought that the "The Twits" was a very dumb book. "The Twits" had no concept at all, and the whole idea of the book was horrible. Personally, I think that "The Twits" was not one of Roald Dahl's best books.
The twits

I had fun reading this book the twits. I like this book the twits because I never seen old people do funny stuff like what they do. They make things out of animals like bird pie. I like when they get mad at each other. These old hags are so scary they don't need to dress up for Halloween. The twits are the funniest hags I ever seen.

Read ThisNow!
I think that this is a great book, I mean, the funniest part is when the Twits find their living room upside down. The scariest part is when they shrink into their own bodies, into a pile of clothes and shoes! You should read it; I highly recommend it.

The Twits
Do you like to read about pranks, or monkeys? If you do then I recommend you read this book. There are two people called Mr. and Mrs. Twit. These two are mean, nasty and gruesome. These people play nasty tricks on each other. But now they're going to get a taste of their own medicine by a couple of monkeys. The characters will be Mr. and Mrs. Twit, some monkeys and others. I would rate this book by giving it 9 stars. I would recommend it for a group of boys because it's exciting, funny and a little gross. You should read this book if you're a prankster or if you want to laugh a little. However you might get grossed-out. ... Read more

Book Description
Misogynist, anti-Semite, misanthrope -- Roald Dahl was reputed to be these, as well as war hero, devoted father, and philanthropist. As a friend once commented, "almost anything you could say about him would be true." To some, Dahl was the dashing husband of actress Patricia Neal and loving family man. To others, he was a ruthless, egotistical bully. And to millions worldwide, Dahl was the Evelyn Waugh of children's books, the beloved scrumdiddlyumptious storyteller of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, The Witches, and James and the Giant Peach, among other classics.

In this acclaimed unauthorized biography of Dahl, Jeremy Treglown reveals the man behind the controversy, tracing Dahl's life from its comfortable beginnings through shocking personal tragedy and enormous commercial success to his death in 1990. Drawing on Dahl's correspondence as well as on interviews with Patricia Neal, two surviving children, and numerous others, Treglown has crafted a "scrupulously fair-minded" portrait of a complex man, "the perfect antidote to Dahl's own triumph at image making" (New York Times Book Review). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

it sure helped
this biograhpy helped me learn more about this wonderful author, and see into the depths of Dahl's works. ... Read more

Book Description
I guess you think you know this story.
You don’t. The real one’s much more gory.
The phoney one, the one you know,
Was cooked up years and years ago. . . .

With his famous wicked humor and the cunning of a big bad wolf, master storyteller and satirist Roald Dahl retells his six favorite fairy tales. Get ready for Dahl’s diabolical version of what really happened to Cinderella, Goldilocks, the Three Little Pigs, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White, and Little Red Riding Hood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Dangerously misleading view of dyslexia
As a parent of a dyslexic, I am concerned that this book presents a misleading view of dyslexia. In particular, dyslexics don't normally make errors of speech as the vicar does - their problems are typically more with reading. The idea that a dyslexic would ever introduce himself to someone by using an orthographically-backwards rendition of his last name is ludicrous. Also, the error of completely reversing the pronunciation of a long word is particularly ridiculous. Swapping a couple of letters, sure, but turning "trespasses" into "sessapsert"? Come on! More insidious is the idea that dyslexia can be easily cured. The doctor suggests the vicar walk backwards! I'm not trying to be the "PC police" here, but if this book is read by your child, it should be accompanied by an honest discussion of the subject of dyslexia from a less fictional standpoint.

Funny
Although this is not our favorite Roald Dahl book, it was a real treat.The vicar was a harmless, innocent character who gave us a big laugh.We did not find the "bathroom" humor offensive - it was clearly in good fun -more of what we have come to expect from Dahl.

Fun and silly!
This is a short but sweet story of a dyslexic vicar called Robert Lee that joins his first parish. He is nervous about his first day, as the previous vicar died and never got to show him the ropes; so nervous is Lee that he develops a new spin-off disease of dyslexia where he says words backwards. Word games being fun on their own, Dahl adds his usual flare for borderline adult humor. (One scenario has him addressing the parish to tell them that while the roads may be long and with few stops, that people in town should notjust "krap" on the side of the road as they please; there's also one on the proper amount of wine to take during the communion, to which he answers along the lines of "pis" slowly and gently and you'll have no problems of running out. Finding the naughty jokes was incredible fun, and the lighthearted approach to solving the vicar's problem by walking backwards so the words come out frontwards is charming. Fun!

a good read
This is a great unique book from Roald Dahl.I would use this with older kids.

Ti Saw Ko, Adnik gniyonna
Well, Just as I said- It was OK, not his BEST. All the backward talk is kinda annoying. Roald Dahls BEST Book was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but I liked BOY and Georges Marvelous Meicine was great! ... Read more

Book Description
The fascinating story of Roald Dahl's life continues in Going Solo, a marvelous evocation of the author's wartime exploits. As a pilot in World War II, Roald Dahl had some wonderfully exciting— and frighteningly near-death— experiences including encounters with the enemy, battles with deadly snakes, and incredible dogfights. Told with the same irresistible appeal that has made Dahl one of the world's best-loved writers, Going Solo brings you directly into the action and into the mind of this brilliant man. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

A Year in a Life

What an entertaining read this proves--not surprisingly--by the author of the children's classic, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.Continuing the autobiographical expose of British boarding schools as revealed in BOY, Dahl opens this meant-for-adults book with a delightfully wacky view of his fellow Englishmen en route to work in Africa.Scornful of the repeated falls from stoic grace by so many of his predecessors, this young Empire Builder is at first shocked by the sight of so many decent chaps who have Gone Native--a result of prolonged absence from the UK and intense heat exposure.Can an idealistic youth rise above heat, humidity and British bravado to maintain his unflappable equanimity, or will he too succumb to the national trend?

Most of this book, however, consists of Dahl's serious account of his contribution to the Allied air war in Africa's western desert, followed by a long recuperation from head trauma.Before he returns safely to England, he describes the deadly action in Greece where German planes far outnumbered the intrepid RAF pilots.Interspersed among the reports of the air war are his own b/w photos and letters (self-censored) to his beloved Norwegian mother in England.This account will easily capture the reader's interest as Dahl translates the global struggle by bringing it down to an intensely human level.With his treasured possessions--pilot's Log Book and his 2nd camera--we leave him when he is reunited safely with his mother.A fast read--well worth the effort even if you are not a war buff.

Going Solo
Going Solo (the sequel to Boy) is a collection of Roald Dahl's most interesting stories of his time in Africa. These include: meeting a man you gives himself dandruff, teaching an African boy to read and write, seeing a lion attack a cook, learning to fly without a teacher, crashing in the African desert, leading a unit of R.A.F. soldiers to stop a caravan of German people from leaving Dar es Salaam, becoming temporarily blind, meeting the girl of his dreams then falling out of love when he sees her and living on a Greek airfield soon before he was grounded. Roald Dahl's style of writing changes each time slightly changes to fit the story. Basically, you get the idea that you have known Roald for years and he is just telling you an amusing story. Going Solo was not as interesting as some of his other fiction stories. For some readers it may not be interesting enough to keep you in the book; but it is not boring, thrills and adventure are always happening. To compare this to Boy would be a little difficult because even though they are the same writer, Boy is about his childhood and is for younger readers. Going Solo is probably for older readers.Even it you do not like one of the chapters the next will bring you back in. So if you want a lot of good anecdotes to read then or if you really liked Boy, you should pick up Going Solo.

Going Solo Review
Going Solo is the great story that Roald Dahl adventured throughout his young life. Roald Dahl accomplished many things once he was able to do things on his own. Mainly the book is about himself traveling all over Europe and Africa just trying to experience as much as he could. He travels all over the bottom of Europe and works way down and around Africa staying at many non civilized villages and getting to know many natives. At the time he is working for the Shell Oil Company until he finally quits. In East Africa he also is endangered with a near fatal death with a Green Mamba , one of the most deadly snakes. Roald also has a passion for the air force, and ends up joining the RAF. Going Solo is one of the most adventurous books that I have ever read, with the nonstop climax's and so many near death experiences. This is a very descriptive book with so many heroic twist that can keep anyone's attention. Roald Dahl is very famous for most of his work such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but this book is amazing because this all actually happened to writer in real life. The greatest part about the Roald Dahl in Going Solo is that he never gave up, even after a plane crash that he should not have been able to live after.He was told that he would be blind for the rest of his life, but about a month later he started to gain his sight back. I feel that this book is a miracle.

Going Solo By Roald Dahl
I read the fantastic book named Going Solo by Roald Dahl. This book was an autobiography of Roald Dahl's life prior to and during World War II. The book explained many of his encounters with the enemy as a pilot for the Royal Air Force in Roald Dahl's personal view. There are an uncountable number of fascinating events that occur when he is a pilot. Some of them include when he receives a life threatening injury, going into a hardcore battle with no experience at fighting enemies, and getting out of a long-lasting dogfight where he was outnumbered 200 to 12. The other half of the book explained his thrilling adventures prior to the war when he worked for the Shell Company. Some of his experiences while working for the Shell Company included chasing a lion, saving a man from a deadly Black Mamba, and sighting a deadly Green Mamba enter his friends house.Every page of the book was full of plot and adventure, and I could not put this book down.
In the beginning of the book Roald Dahl is on a ship, which was taking him from England to Africa for a job with the Shell Company. He ended up in a beautiful tropic town named Dar es Salaam, located in Tanzania, which is on the coast of Africa. Once there, he was given a personal `boy' named Mdisho, which back then was like an unpaid worker. Mdisho and Roald form a very close father-son relationship, Roald being the father and Mdisho being the son. Roald teaches Mdisho many things, while Mdisho goes out and works for him. After a while, Roald decides to join the army as a Pilot Officer. He began his journey in flight training for six months. Then, he was given directions to join up with the 80 Squadron, who were fighting in the middle of the Sahara desert. The directions were incorrect and he ended up crashing and getting a life-threatening injury. Once he recovered, he was to meet up with the 80 Squadron again, who were now located in Greece. He finds himself fighting in Greece with only 12 planes in the whole of Greece. The Germans had thousands of planes located in Greece, so they fought as best they could. Once it was getting too dangerous, the 80 Squadron left and went on to a place named Argos, which was another fifty miles along the coast. After that, they went along to Palestine and Syria, and fought off more Nazis. He then was experiencing major headaches when flying and had to be sent home. This is a brief overview of the book, and as you can see it's full of suspense.
This book was an awesome book, because I learned a lot about how life was during World War II through the eyes of a magnificent writer. It was so good that I read it the first day I started reading it. Roald Dahl draws out a scene for you each battle, so you can imagine like you are there with him, in his Hurricane airplane fighting off the Nazis. This book is for the sort of person that enjoys reading fast-paced books and loves to read about history. Also, if you like the author Roald Dahl, I would suggest reading it because it tells a lot about him, and his personal history. If this book sounds interesting to you then I definitely recommend it and suggest you check it out, or maybe you might want to check out the prequel to Going Solo titled Boy.

Unbelievable and Amazing Stories!
WOW! Going Solo, by Roald Dahl is an amazing and heart capturing book. Read this book if you love war stories. These stories are serious, funny, and keep you wanting more. I found the book almost impossible to believe during some points in the amazing novel.
Dahl's biography tells about his survival in the dated war planes without experience (while outnumbered 100 to 1) and on the ground as commander with no experience again. Dahl uses great language and thought to describe things and to progress the novel with amazing simplicity. To me, simplicity and straight-forwardness makes a book enjoyable (not school like), and pretty easy to read. It is not a "piece of cake" reading, but it isn't unbelievably hard. His survival in the air of Greece and Africa come down to one thing, instincts. I believe Going Solo shows how most humans would act during a war; very scared, rather excited, nervous, and filled with heart pumping adrenaline. As I read, my eyes read faster than my brain could keep up with. I felt I was flying right next Dahl, watching him struggle to survive the most horrid war of history, World War II. What I also love about Roald Dahl's story is that he has a perfect balance of humor and exploding action. There was never one seriously boring dead place.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I love Going Solo because I always want to read more. Most of the time I do not wish to put it down. These are the types of books I love to read. Astonishingly, the novel feels like a movie. At the last second when all hope seems to be lost, Dahl shows his intelligence by giving you a story you will remember for a long time. That is why I recommend this book.
Do not read Going Solo if you hate adventurous, unbelievably true World War II stories. Trust me; read Going Solo if you want a great read with amazing plot.
The novel builds and builds with drama and action, then the unfathomable happens...read Going Solo to find a great ending with a great last word.
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