Roald Dahl's BFG sandal

This leather sandal, of traditional Norwegian design, was owned and worn by the famous children's author Roald Dahl. It played an important role in the way his book The BFG was illustrated. In the first draft manuscript, Roald Dahl described the BFG, as wearing black trousers "tucked into the tops of black leather boots." However these boots made the BFG look rather fierce. The inspiration for alternative footwear came when Roald Dahl sent the illustrator Quentin Blake his Norwegian sandal- it was perfect. Dahl changed his text and the published book describes the BFG as wearing "a pair of ridiculous sandals that for some reason had holes cut along each side, with a large hole at the end where his toes stuck out." This is a rare example of Dahl changing his text to accommodate a better illustration.