Dahl, Roald 1916–

Dahl, an Englishman born in Wales, is a short story and screen writer (Dahl's wife is the actress Patricia Neal and his screenplays are written for her) and the author of a novel, a play, and several controversial and widely read children's books, "cautionary tales for bad children" (of which Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the best known). Dahl's special talent as a short story writer is the integration of the pedestrian and the grotesque in tales that have been likened to Charles Addams' cartoons. Most of his stories appear originally in Playboy, Esquire, the New Yorker, and other prestigious periodicals. (See also Contemporary Authors, Vols. 1-4, rev. ed.)

Dahl's characteristic story sets up a quick situation, usually within a family, and ends with the nastiest character taking control or with a victim facing a grim future. A woman discovers that her irritating husband is trapped in the elevator...

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass