A thirteenth of September, like today, but a hundred years ago, in Oxford, England, a baby was born who was going to help thousands of children around the world to dream, to imagine, to overcome fears and to laugh out loud, as if only Children can laugh.
On thirteen September 1916, Roald Dahl was born, perhaps one of the best known children's literature writers, admired and respected by many generations of readers of all ages for what has made us laugh and dream of children and adults.
Roald was born in England but his mother had Norwegian ancestry and there the explorer Roald Amundsen was considered a national hero, so they named the baby.
It is inevitable to make parallelism because Dahl was undoubtedly an explorer in the world of children's literature, a discoverer of environments and characters that millions of children still enjoy today and not only on the pages of books, but also on the big screen of cinemas.
A complicated childhood
Yes, because when he was only three years old his sister died from appendicitis and only a few weeks later, his father because of pneumonia.
Perhaps Dahl's imagination will help him spend the worst moments seeing signs of magic in any detail. Like when he studied at a school where he occasionally sent the Cadbury chocolate factory to send his new products for children to try.
From these shipments and from the imagination of Dahl, one of his best-known and most recommended stories would be born years later (among others by British teachers who have cataloged it as his favorite children's book) "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" that we have seen in the cinema on two different occasions.
The first in 1971 with a script that Dahl himself adapted from his story and the second from Tim Burton in 2005.
An intense life
His life was random at some times and tragic at others too, was loaded with experiences and experiences that surely in one way or another was turning in his books.
For a time he worked in present-day Tanzania, joined the British Air Force and flew through different countries in Africa. He had to leave after a very serious accident that almost cost him his life.
He married his first wife with 37 years, they had five children together but precisely during the fifth pregnancy, Patricia Neal had a stroke that left him unable to walk or talk and from which he gradually recovered with the support of Roald.
Some time later, one of his sons died from an accident that caused him hydrocephalus and two years later of that loss, his daughter Olivia died from being infected with measles. Dahl wrote one of the allegations in defense of the most emotional, sincere and blunt vaccines ever written.
A bright feather
Roald Dahl, in addition to his international recognition as an author of children's titles, had a successful career as an adult writer perhaps somewhat less well known.
Is that his work for children is overwhelming, starting with the first book published for children in 1943, "The Gremlins", you may not have read it but I am very surprised that you have not seen the famous movie.
Recently I was talking to a mother who told me how her son of a few years was laughing out loud in one of the most “gross” sequences of the film but more fun of the film.
In addition to the two works already mentioned, Roald Dahl wrote delicious stories like that of "James and the Giant Peach" and tender as "The giant good-natured" who have also been taken to the movies and enjoyed by young and old.
"Matilda" is another of his most iconic titles, his most recognized and recognizable books and "The witches" Today it is still part of the reading plan of many schools in our country, yes, for somewhat older children.
We have only mentioned a few but you see that there are many, many reasons to celebrate the birth of a genius of children's literature such as Roald Dahl, his imagination is still alive in each and every one of his books.
Photos | iStockphoto | flickr
In Babies and more | Seven stories to tell and dream before bedtime | World poetry day: seven books of poems to enjoy with our children | International Children's Book Day: 17 books that cannot be missed among the children's readings
