Early career Once he completed his curriculum, Roald dreamt of adventure. He was hired by Shell, the oil company, to run the vast East African territory. His life there was thrilling. But at 23, as the second world war broke out, he joined the Royal Air Force. He almost died in a plane crash. Still, he became a pilot, a flying ace, and fought in Greece where his life was in constant danger. He had such headaches, because of his earlier accident, that he was sent back to England. He met important people from the government who thought he could be useful to them. He was sent to the United States. His mission was to meet the American elite and encourage them to support Britain’s war effort. Among the influencial people he met were two writers, C.S. Forester or Ian Fleming, who encouraged him to write. He also met his future wife in New York. They had five children together.
As a writer From his first published story “Shot Down Over Libya” in the Saturday Evening Post, Dahl embarked on a writing career. His first book was meant for children, it was entitled The Gremlins. Walt Disney himself almost made a film out of it !
Throughout his career, he wrote short-stories, novels, poetry, plays and filmscripts, and autobiographies. He is famous for his children’s books but he also wrote books for adults. They are full of black humour !
Roald found his ideas in everyday life, and in his childhood memories too. One of his greatest books is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His most famous children’s books are Mathilda, James and the Giant Peach.
He died at the age of 74, in 1990.
