Archive
Roald Dahl’s published works
Explore Roald Dahl's books for adults and children.
Explore the timeline below:
1940s
1943 - The Gremlins
1940s
1943 - The Gremlins
Roald Dahl's first book for children was published.
His first children’s book was The Gremlins, about mischievous little creatures that were part of RAF folklore.
1940s
1946 - Over to You: Ten Stories of Flyers and Flying
1940s
1946 - Over to You: Ten Stories of Flyers and Flying
Ten terrifying tales of life as a wartime fighter pilot inspired by Roald Dahl's time during WII.
Find out more1940s
1948 - Sometime Never: A Fable for Supermen
1940s
1948 - Sometime Never: A Fable for Supermen
Roald's first adult novel, inspired by his time as a fighter pilot during WII. This is a darker take on his children's book The Gremlins.
1950s
1953 - Someone Like You
1950s
1953 - Someone Like You
A collection of short stories for adults with a darker and more sinister side.
Includes the short stories The Ratcatcher and Poison which have recently been adapted for the screen by Wes Anderson.
1960s
1960 - Kiss Kiss
1960s
1960 - Kiss Kiss
A collection of eleven short stories for adults.
The book features The Champion of the World which is a condensed version Dahl’s 1975 children’s book Danny the Champion of the World.
1960s
1961 - James and the Giant peach
1960s
1961 - James and the Giant peach
One of Roald Dahls' best-loved books.
The first edition is illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert, and later illustrated by Michael Simeon, Emma Chichester Clark, Lane Smith and Quentin Blake.
It was made into a feature-length film directed by Henry Selick in 1996.
“A little magic can take you a long way”
Buy now1960s
1964 (US) 1967 (UK) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
1960s
1964 (US) 1967 (UK) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Originally inspired by Roald Dahl's time at Repton School in Derbyshire. Roald said that local chocolate companies would send the boys sweets to taste-test.
The book has also been adapted into two major motion pictures: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in 1971 and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2005. A prequel called ‘Wonka’ will be released on Netfix on 15 December 2023.
1960s
1966 (US) 1968 (UK) - The Magic Finger
1960s
1966 (US) 1968 (UK) - The Magic Finger
A children's book featuring an unnamed 8-year-old girl with magical powers.
It’s working title was The Almost Ducks.
“I PUT THE MAGIC FINGER ON THEM ALL!”
Buy now1970s
1970 - Fantastic Mr Fox
1970s
1970 - Fantastic Mr Fox
Inspired by the local Chiltern countryside close to where Roald Dahl's lived.
“Mr Fox used to live under the roots of this tree and he made a burrow all the way down this lane to the village, and then from there he would make tunnels going up into various shops of the village. ”
Roald Dahl
Buy now1970s
1972 - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
1970s
1972 - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
The story is a sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and picks up directly from the end of the first book
Buy now1970s
1974 - Switch Bitch
1970s
1974 - Switch Bitch
A collection of short stories that feature very adult subject matter exploring a darker side of desire.
Buy now1970s
1975 - Danny, the Champion of the World
1970s
1975 - Danny, the Champion of the World
A book greatly inspired by local people and places.
In one of Roald’s Ideas Books we can see an idea for hiding poached rabbits in a pram. This has been ticked off with ‘Danny the Champion of the World’ scribbled next to it.
The book also features the first mention of the BFG.
“Grown ups are complicated creatures, full of quirks and secrets.”
Buy now1970s
1977 - The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More
1970s
1977 - The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More
A collection of seven short stories aimed at older children.
One of the stories, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, has recently been adapted by Wes Anderson for Netflix.
“The very rich are enormously resentful of bad weather. It is the one discomfort that their money cannot do anything about.”
Buy now1970s
1978 - The Enormous Crocodile
1970s
1978 - The Enormous Crocodile
A picture book aimed at 3 to 4 year olds.
Roald said it was “the hardest thing in the world, to write a little book with a strong plot that will hold a three and a four year old.”
This was the first Roald Dahl book that Quentin Blake illustrated.
1970s
1978 - Tales of the Unexpected
1970s
1978 - Tales of the Unexpected
1970s
1979 - My Uncle Oswald
1970s
1979 - My Uncle Oswald
1980s
1980 - The Twits
1980s
1980 - The Twits
1980s
1980 - More Tales of the Unexpected
1980s
1980 - More Tales of the Unexpected
1980s
1981 - George's Marvellous Medicine
1980s
1981 - George's Marvellous Medicine
1980s
1982 - The BFG
1980s
1982 - The BFG
1980s
1982 - Revolting Rhymes
1980s
1982 - Revolting Rhymes
1980s
1983 - The Witches
1980s
1983 - The Witches
1980s
1983 - Dirty Beasts
1980s
1983 - Dirty Beasts
1980s
1983 - Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories
1980s
1983 - Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories
1980s
1984 - Boy: Tales of Childhood
1980s
1984 - Boy: Tales of Childhood
1980s
1985 - The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
1980s
1985 - The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
1980s
1986 - Two Fables
1980s
1986 - Two Fables
1980s
1986 - Going Solo
1980s
1986 - Going Solo
1980s
1989 - Matilda
1980s
1989 - Matilda
1980s
1989 - Rhyme Stew
1980s
1989 - Rhyme Stew
1980s
1989 - Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life
1980s
1989 - Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life
1990s
1990 - Esio Trot
1990s
1990 - Esio Trot
1990s
1991 - The Vicar of Nibbleswicke
1990s
1991 - The Vicar of Nibbleswicke
1990s
1991 - Billy and the Minpins
1990s
1991 - Billy and the Minpins
1990s
1991 - Memories with Food at Gipsy House
1990s
1991 - Memories with Food at Gipsy House
1990s
1991 - Roald Dahl's Guide to Railway Safety
1990s
1991 - Roald Dahl's Guide to Railway Safety
1990s
1991 - My Year
1990s
1991 - My Year
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