Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Donald Sturrock's account of Roald's life begins at the dinner table and in his hut in Buckinghamshire. With Julian Rhind-Tutt.

"Roald Dahl thought biographies were boring. He told me so while munching on a lobster claw."

The new biographer of Dahl is Donald Sturrock, who once made a film about the writer, so knew the man and his family very well. His book charts Dahl's rich and varied life as fighter pilot, intelligence operative, and the adult writer who then wrote for children in such an impactful way that he remains hugely popular with today's young readers. He was truly on their wavelength. He spoke to them through books such as Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, The BFG and Danny, Champion of The World.

Sturrock investigates Dahl's eternal popularity as a writer. And of course the man behind the books...

1.In the first of five episodes, abridged by Alison Joseph, the biographer sits at the Dahl dinner table and recounts a memorable visit to the writer's hut, where certain treasures are unearthed.

The reader is Julian Rhind-Tutt and the voice of Dahl is Ian McDiarmid

Producer Duncan Minshull.

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 14 Apr 2015 02:45

More episodes

Previous

You are at the first episode

See all episodes from Book of the Week

Broadcasts

  • Mon 6 Sep 2010 09:45
  • Tue 7 Sep 2010 00:30
  • Mon 10 Jun 2013 14:45
  • Mon 13 Apr 2015 14:45
  • Tue 14 Apr 2015 02:45

Listen to more Audio Books

Listen to more Audio Books

Including My Sister The Serial Killer, Queenie, The Flatshare and more.

Opening Lines

Opening Lines

John Yorke unpacks the themes behind the stories in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.

Sample our books and authors Clip Collection

Interviews, previews and reviews

Subscribe to the Short stories podcast

Featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers

How many of these 100 Novels have you read?

How many of these 100 Novels have you read?

After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.

Finding Your Story

Finding Your Story

Ten remarkable novels about identity: Which one will help you discover yourself?

大象传媒 Arts: Books

Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.