History of Roald Dahl Timeline

(1916 – 1990)

Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was a British novelist, short story writer, poet, and wartime fighter ace, celebrated worldwide for his imaginative children's books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG, as well as his darker adult fiction. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life

Roald Dahl is born in Cardiff, Wales

Sep 13, 1916

Roald Dahl was born in Cardiff, Wales, to Norwegian immigrant parents Harald and Sofie Magdalene Dahl. He was named after the Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen. His birthplace, Villa Marie in Llandaff, would later be commemorated with a blue plaque.

Image source: Roald Dahl

Death of his sister Astri from appendicitis

Apr 1920

Dahl's elder sister Astri died of appendicitis at age seven. Devastated by her death, his father Harald died weeks later of pneumonia, leaving Sofie to raise six children alone.

Attends St Peter's boarding school in Weston-super-Mare

Sep 1925

At age eight, Dahl was sent to St Peter's preparatory school in Weston-super-Mare, England. His experiences with strict discipline and harsh corporal punishment there later inspired his depictions of cruel adults in books like Matilda.

Image source: Weston-super-Mare

Attends Repton School in Derbyshire

1929 - 1934

Dahl attended Repton School as a teenager. The Cadbury chocolate company occasionally sent test boxes of chocolates to students for evaluation, an experience Dahl later cited as inspiration for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Image source: Repton School

Joins Shell Oil Company after leaving school

1934

After graduating from Repton, Dahl joined the Shell Petroleum Company, hoping for a career abroad. After training in England, he was posted to Mombasa, Kenya, and then Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika, where he lived a life of adventure.

Image source: Shell plc

Marries actress Patricia Neal

Jul 2, 1953

Dahl married American Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal at Trinity Church in New York City. The couple had five children together: Olivia, Tessa, Theo, Ophelia, and Lucy.

Image source: Patricia Neal

Daughter Olivia dies of measles complications

Nov 17, 1962

Dahl's eldest daughter Olivia died at age seven from measles encephalitis. Her death devastated the family and later inspired Dahl to become a passionate advocate for immunization.

Image source: Olivia Dahl

War Years

Joins Royal Air Force at outbreak of World War II

Nov 1939

Following Britain's declaration of war on Germany, Dahl traveled to Nairobi and enlisted in the Royal Air Force as an aircraftman. He began flight training with other volunteers on Tiger Moth biplanes.

Image source: Royal Air Force

Joins Royal Air Force at outbreak of World War II

Suffers severe crash landing in Libya

Sep 19, 1940

While ferrying a Gladiator fighter plane toward Egypt during the North African campaign, Dahl crashed in the Western Desert near Alexandria, Libya, sustaining serious injuries including skull fractures. He spent months recovering in Alexandria before returning to flying duty.

Serves as fighter pilot during Greek campaign

Apr 1941 - Jun 1941

Dahl flew Hawker Hurricanes in combat over Greece against German aircraft during the Battle of Greece. Despite poor odds and limited experience, he scored several aerial victories before being evacuated as Greece fell.

Image source: German invasion of Greece

Becomes assistant air attaché in Washington, D.C

1942

After being declared unfit for further combat flying, Dahl was assigned to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., as an assistant air attaché, where he promoted British interests and gathered intelligence among high society.

Image source: Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington, D.C.

Writing Career

Publishes first story 'A Piece of Cake' as 'Shot Down Over Libya'

Aug 1, 1942

Dahl's first published short story appeared in The Saturday Evening Post under the title 'Shot Down Over Libya.' Based on his crash landing, it launched his writing career after C.S. Forester encouraged him to write down his wartime experiences.

Publishes first children's book The Gremlins

1943

Dahl wrote The Gremlins, about mischievous mythical creatures that sabotaged RAF planes, which Walt Disney planned to adapt into a film. Though the film was never made, the book became Dahl's first foray into children's literature and even entered RAF slang.

Image source: Gremlins

Publishes first children's book The Gremlins

Publishes James and the Giant Peach

1961

Dahl published his first successful children's novel, James and the Giant Peach, originally conceived as stories told to his own children. The fantastical tale of an orphaned boy who journeys inside a giant magical peach established Dahl's reputation as a children's author.

Image source: James and the Giant Peach

Publishes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

1964

Dahl's most famous work, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, introduced readers to Willy Wonka's extraordinary chocolate factory. Drawing on his schoolboy chocolate-testing memories, the book became an enduring classic translated into dozens of languages.

Image source: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Writes screenplay for You Only Live Twice

1967

Dahl wrote the screenplay for the fifth James Bond film, You Only Live Twice, starring Sean Connery. A friend of Ian Fleming, Dahl created an almost entirely original script based loosely on Fleming's novel, blending espionage with his signature dark humor.

Image source: You Only Live Twice (film)

Co-writes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang screenplay

1968

Dahl adapted Ian Fleming's novel into the screenplay for the musical film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, starring Dick Van Dyke. His contribution added whimsical fantasy elements to the story of a magical flying car.

Image source: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Publishes Fantastic Mr Fox

1970

Dahl published Fantastic Mr Fox, the tale of a clever fox who outwits three greedy farmers to save his family and fellow animals. The book was later adapted into a stop-motion film by Wes Anderson in 2009.

Image source: Fantastic Mr Fox

Publishes The BFG

1982

The BFG, dedicated to Dahl's late daughter Olivia, tells of a gentle giant who catches dreams and befriends orphan Sophie. The book won widespread acclaim and was adapted into animated and live-action films by Steven Spielberg in 2016.

Image source: The BFG

Publishes The Witches

1983

The Witches, about a boy and his grandmother battling a secret society of child-hating witches, won the Whitbread Award and the World Fantasy Award. It was famously adapted into a 1990 film featuring Anjelica Huston.

Image source: The Witches (novel)

Publishes Matilda

1988

Matilda, the story of a brilliant little girl with telekinetic powers who outsmarts her tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull, became one of Dahl's most beloved works. It inspired the 1996 film, a celebrated West End and Broadway musical, and a Netflix adaptation.

Image source: Matilda (novel)

Publishes Esio Trot, his final book

1990

Esio Trot, a whimsical love story between Mr Hoppy and Mrs Silver involving a tortoise and a clever scheme, was Dahl's last published children's book. He completed it shortly before his death the same year.

Image source: Esio Trot

Later Life and Legacy

Son Theo suffers brain injury; co-invents valve to treat hydrocephalus

Dec 1960

Dahl's infant son Theo suffered brain damage when his baby carriage was struck by a taxi. Dahl collaborated with neurosurgeon Kenneth Till and hydraulic engineer Stanley Wade to develop the Wade-Dahl-Till valve, a device that improved treatment for childhood hydrocephalus.

Image source: Wade-Dahl-Till valve

Patricia Neal suffers strokes while pregnant

Feb 1965

Patricia Neal suffered three cerebral aneurysms while pregnant with their daughter Lucy. Dahl took charge of her demanding rehabilitation regimen, and she made a remarkable recovery, returning to acting and winning an Academy Award for Hud.

Divorces Patricia Neal

1983

After three decades of marriage marked by tragedy, Dahl and Patricia Neal divorced. Dahl soon married Felicity Crosland, whom he had met years earlier, and they remained together until his death.

Publishes autobiography Boy: Tales of Childhood

1984

Dahl published Boy: Tales of Childhood, recounting his youth in Wales and England, including his schooldays and the chocolate-testing episode at Repton. A sequel, Going Solo, followed in 1986 covering his adult adventures.

Image source: Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction

Publishes autobiography Boy: Tales of Childhood

Diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome

1990

In his final months, Dahl was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disorder affecting bone marrow. He faced the illness with characteristic resolve, continuing to work on projects until shortly before his death.

Image source: Myelodysplastic syndrome

Roald Dahl dies aged 74

Nov 23, 1990

Roald Dahl died at his home, Gipsy House, in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. He was buried according to his wishes with snooker cues, burgundy wine, pencils, and a power saw, overlooking the garden he loved.

Roald Dahl Children's Gallery opens

1996

The Roald Dahl Children's Gallery opened in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, offering interactive exhibits based on his beloved stories, cementing the county's connection to the author who made it his home for decades.

Image source: Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre

Roald Dahl Day established annually

Sep 13, 2006

Roald Dahl Day was established to be celebrated every September 13, the author's birthday. Schools, libraries, and fans worldwide mark the occasion with themed events celebrating his stories and characters.