- Fantasy
- Chapter Books
- Ages 6–12
The shape of it
The shape of this universe.
Roald Dahl's children's books, published 1961–1990, almost all illustrated by Quentin Blake, remain among the most-read in the language. The body of work has a recognisable register: anarchic on adult authority, very dark in places (witches, child-eating giants, sadistic schoolteachers), very funny, with sudden flashes of tenderness. The Witches, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and George's Marvellous Medicine are touchstones. Modern parents often find them sharper than they remember; the cruelty (especially toward adults) is part of the comedy and part of the appeal. Some editions have been re-edited in recent years; the originals remain widely available.
Canonical 20th-century children's writer, dark, funny, anarchic. Witty and slightly cruel on a level few contemporary writers reach.
Primary themes
Tone palette
- Funny
- Irreverent
- Dark
- Whimsical
The series
One way in.
Cultural footprint
A shelf of evidence.
What Roald Dahl has done
- Bestseller list
- Major award winner
- TV adaptation
- Bbc adaptation
Cultural ubiquity
5/ 5Household name — recognised across generations.
Sensitivity
Moderate, and collection-wide.
Content notes
- Scary imagery
- Violence
- Absent parent
Across the collection
All 12 books.
About the creator