Episode 3
The tale of the writer's son Theo and a remarkable invention, the Dahl-Wade-Till valve. Donald Sturrock's biography, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt with Ian McDiarmid.
"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...
3. Living in New York gave the author a premonition of a family disaster, which was vividly realized all too soon.
Read by Julian Rhind Tutt and the voice of Dahl is Ian McDiarmid
Producer Duncan Minshull.
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Wed 8 Sep 201009:45BBC Radio 4 FM- Thu 9 Sep 201000:30BBC Radio 4
- Wed 12 Jun 201314:45BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 15 Apr 201514:45BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Thu 16 Apr 201502:45BBC Radio 4 Extra
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