Roald Dahl is one of the most well-known authors not just in Britain but in the world. His books have been sold over 250 million copies around the world, with many of them being adapted into movies. As September 13th marks Roald Dahl Day, we are looking at the famous author’s career and highlighting a handful of his books you may not be familiar with.
Who Was Roald Dahl?
Born on the September 13th, 1916, Roald was of Norwegian descent but raised in the United Kingdom. His early years were spent in Wales. Many of Roald Dahl’s childhood experiences informed the content of his children’s books. During the Second World War, Dahl was a Royal Air Force pilot, and his first published work was based on an experience during this time.
Over the course of his writing career, Roald Dahl produced 49 books, not including his work on plays and screenplays. He was even a co-writer on the scripts for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and You Only Live Twice, both adaptations of Ian Fleming works.
Whilst most well known for his children’s stories, Dahl also wrote mature fiction. Some of these stories, which often possessed a macabre element, were adapted to television in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
Little Known Roald Dahl Books
Nearly everyone has heard of books like The Twits, Fantastic Mr Fox, and, of course, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, Roald Dahl wrote several other books and stories in his lifetime that haven’t received as much recognition. His stories for adult readers, especially, are often overlooked as many people do not realise he ever wrote them. However, there are also some children’s books that may have been forgotten alongside the well-known tales.
Someone Like You
Published in 1953, this Roald Dahl book is a collection of eighteen short stories across several genres. The book is considered one for an adult audience due to the themes included in the stories, though Dahl’s wit is present throughout. Some of the stories in this collection were adapted for radio and, later, television. The story Poison was adapted twice, first for Alfred Hitchcock Presents and later for the second series of Tales of the Unexpected.
Also included in this collection are Lamb to the Slaughter, in which a murder is committed with a frozen leg of lamb, and Man from the South, in which a dangerous bet is placed. Many of the stories in the collection are marked by their twist endings, which leave quite the impression on the reader.
When it was published, one reviewer called it “the most distinguished book of short stories of 1953”.
The Magic Finger
When we think of Roald Dahl characters with magic powers, many of us are likely to think of Matilda. However, 22 years before Matilda was released, Roald Dahl wrote another story of a young girl who used magic to do good. The protagonist has a love of animals and a disdain of those who would hurt them, which includes her neighbours. When they anger her one day, she turns the titular magic finger upon them, with enlightening results.
An animated adaptation is slated for release at the end of 2022, so this story may soon get some of the recognition it deserves.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More
This collection sits somewhere between the last two entries in terms of its main target audience. Whilst not suited to younger readers, it is a collection that is noted as appealing to teenagers and young adults since publication in 1977. It contains seven stories in total, two of which are autobiographical and one that is non-fiction.
The titular story, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, follows a gambling man named Henry Sugar, who learns of a special ability he can use to improve his odds when making bets. In doing so, he experiences an epiphany of a kind. Without giving too much away, the protagonist becomes a better man, and unlike some of Dahl’s stories this one ends with a happy ending.
Other pieces included are Piece of Cake, which recounts Roald Dahl’s time as a fighter pilot – this was also his first published piece of writing – and The Hitch-Hiker, an entertaining tale with a satisfying twist.
The Minpins (or Billy and the Minpins)
The last work ever produced by Roald Dahl, The Minpins was published shortly after the author’s death. It’s also one that doesn’t get talked about very often.
Billy, the book’s protagonist, lives near the Forest of Sin, which he is forbidden from entering. In fact, Billy isn’t allowed to do many things at all. However, the forest is supposedly full of creatures, many of whose names appeared in earlier of Dahl’s works. Eventually, Billy is tricked into entering the forest, where he is chased by a monster. This is when he meets the Minpins, who live in the trees.
Some reviews suggest this book provides child-friendly scares alongside a heart-warming and inspirational story. 827 reviews on Amazon, averaging at 4.8 stars, suggest this is a must-read.
Tales of the Unexpected and More Tales of the Unexpected
We’re closing off this list of little-known Roald Dahl books with a double entry, as they are two books in the same vein. Many of the stories in these collections were adapted into the Tales of the Unexpected TV series in the ‘80s.
Altogether, there are 25 stories in these two collections, some of which were previously published elsewhere. The stories, like many of Roald Dahl’s more mature tales, feature a balance of the macabre and the darkly humorous. One such tale is Dip in the Pool, where a man goes to extreme lengths to win a bet, with disastrous results. Meanwhile, The Landlady, is thick with foreboding that will leave readers considering the consequences for some time.
The Umbrella Man is a more humorous story, where an old man sells an umbrella to a mum and her daughter, who decide something is strange about the man and go to investigate.
These two books are a great way to explore Roald Dahl’s more mature stories, as they include several different types of stories. The fact that many of these stories were adapted to television further supports their place as well-written tales.
Tell our team your favourite Roald Dahl books and stories – from childhood to today – in the comments below.
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