James and the Giant Peach
A representative entry point to Dahl's children's fiction.
Author guide
Roald Dahl Books in Order
Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was a British writer whose career encompassed children's novels and picture books, macabre and comic adult short stories, poetry, memoir, nonfiction, and drama. After serving as an RAF fighter pilot during the Second World War, he established himself as a short-story writer before becoming one of the most widely read children's authors of the twentieth century. His work is noted for dark humor, grotesque inventions, subversive child protagonists, and exuberant wordplay.
children's literatureadult fictionshort storiespoetrymemoirnonfictiondrama
Catalog record updated .
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The natural starting point for the Charlie Bucket series.
Boy: Tales of Childhood
The first volume of Dahl's autobiographical sequence.
Read in order
Books by series
- 1 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Book 1 · children's-novel · 1964
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 1964 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. The story features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. Charlie and the…
- 2 Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Book 2 · children's-novel · 1972
Taking up where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory leaves off, Charlie, his family, and Mr. Wonka find themselves launched into space in the great glass elevator.
memoirs · complete
Boy and Going Solo
Roald Dahl's two-part autobiographical sequence, covering his childhood and early adult life.
- 1 Boy: Tales of Childhood
Book 1 · memoir · 1984
- 2 Going Solo
Book 2 · memoir · 1986
Roald Dahl tells the story of his adventures as an adult, first in Africa, then learning to be a wartime fighter pilot.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (4)
- Sometime Never: A Fable for Supermen
novel · 1948
- My Uncle Oswald
novel · 1979
- Roald Dahl's Guide to Railway Safety
nonfiction-booklet · 1991
- My Year
nonfiction-memoir · 1993
In this nostalgic work, Dahl combines recollections of his early years with reflections on the changing seasons... In a delightful month-by-month journey through the passing year, Roald Dahl mixes past and present; reminiscences of…
Nonfiction (1)
- Memories with Food at Gipsy House
cookbook · 1991
Short fiction (8)
- Over to You: Ten Stories of Flyers and Flying
short-story-collection · 1946
Over to You brings together 10 of Roald Dahl's earliest stories, many of them set during the Second World War and drawing on his own experiences as a fighter pilot. It includes his first paid piece of writing, the short story A Piece of…
- Someone Like You
short-story-collection · 1953
Someone Like You is a collection of short stories by Roald Dahl. It was published in 1953 by Alfred Knopf. The 18 stories featured are: - Taste - Lamb to the Slaughter - Man from the South - The Soldier - My Lady Love, My Dove - Dip in…
- Kiss Kiss
short-story-collection · 1960
A collection containing: -Landlady -William and Mary -The Way Up to Heaven -Parson's Pleasure -Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat -Royal Jelly -Georgy Porgy -Genesis and Catastrophe -Edward the Conqueror -Pig -Champion of the World
- Switch Bitch
short-story-collection · 1974
Four tales of seduction and suspense from the grand master of the short story... Topping and tailing this collection are two stories featuring Roald Dahl's notorious hedonist Oswald Hendryks Cornelius (or Uncle Oswald) whose exploits are…
- The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More
short-story-collection · 1977
For use in schools and libraries only. An account of how the author came to be a writer. Selections from his writer's notebook augment stories juxtaposing fantasy and truth, peopled with outrageous and courageous characters.
- Two Fables
short-story-collection · 1986
Two Fables is a collection of two short stories by Roald Dahl, first published in 1986 by Viking in England and in 1987 by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux in the United States. It contains the following two stories: "Princess and the Poacher"…
- Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life: The Country Stories of Roald Dahl
short-story-collection · 1989
The sweet scents of rural life infuse this collection of Roald Dahl's country stories, but there is always something unexpected lurking in the undergrowth... Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life brings together seven of Roald Dahl's short stories…
- The Great Automatic Grammatizator and Other Stories
short-story-collection · 1996
Can it really possible to invent a machine that does the job of a writer? How would you take exact revenge on a cruel tabloid journalist? What is it about the landlady’s house that makes it so hard for her guests to leave? Does Sir Basil…
Essays and speeches (1)
- Measles, a Dangerous Illness
nonfiction-pamphlet · 1986
Children's books (15)
- The Gremlins
children's-picture-book · 1943
Published in 1943 and long unavailable, this landmark book is digitally restored. This remarkable presentation of Roald Dahl's classic story is lavishly illustrated by the artists of the Walt Disney Studios. The story of The Gremlins…
- James and the Giant Peach
children's-novel · 1961
When James Henry Trotter accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Then James discovers a secret…
- The Magic Finger
children's-fiction · 1966
Angered by a neighboring family's sport hunting, an eight-year-old girl turns her magic finger on them.
- Fantastic Mr Fox
children's-novel · 1970
The main character of Fantastic Mr. Fox is an extremely clever anthropomorphized fox named Mr. Fox. He lives with his wife and four little foxes. In order to feed his family, he steals food from the cruel, brutish farmers named Boggis,…
- Danny, the Champion of the World
children's-novel · 1975
This textbook is for algebra based Introductory Statistics courses. Prentice Hall has teamed the proven authorship and pedagogical expertise of Ron Larson with Betsy Farber's 30 years of statistics teaching experience to write an…
- The Enormous Crocodile
children's-picture-book · 1978
From the bestselling author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG ! The Enormous Crocodile is a horrid greedy grumptious brute who loves to guzzle up little boys and girls. But the other animals have had enough of his cunning…
- The Twits
children's-fiction · 1980
The misadventures of two terrible old people who enjoy playing nasty tricks and are finally outwitted by a family of monkeys.
- George's Marvellous Medicine
children's-fiction · 1981
What's the only cure for the meanest grandmother in the world? George creates a fierce and fantastic bubbling brew, the perfect cure. In this popular Dahl story, George creates a very special medicine to cure his grandma of her nasty…
- The BFG
children's-novel · 1982
The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, or any of the other giants—rather than the BFG—she…
- The Witches
children's-novel · 1983
This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches. Real witches don't ride around on broomsticks. They don't even wear black cloaks and hats. They are vile, cunning, detestable creatures who disguise themselves as nice, ordinary…
- The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
children's-picture-book · 1985
]The Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company certainly doesn't. They don’t need a pail, either, because they have a pelican with a bucket-sized beak. With a monkey to do the washing and Billy as their manager, this business is destined for…
- Matilda
children's-novel · 1988
Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a menacing, kid-hating headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the…
- Esio Trot
children's-fiction · 1990
Another whimsical book by author Roald Dahl. Mr. Hoppy is in love with Mrs. Silver, but she doesn't even know he's alive. The only one she has eyes for is her pet tortoise, Alfie. How can Mr. Hoppy get her to notice him? Why, with magic,…
- The Vicar of Nibbleswicke
children's-picture-book · 1991
"My name is Eel, Robert Eel. I am the new rotsap of Nibbleswicke. Dog help me!" The Reverend Lee is suffering from a rare and acutely embarrassing condition: Back-to-Front Dyslexia. It affects only his speech, and he doesn't realize he's…
- The Minpins
children's-picture-book · 1991
Little Billy enters the Forest of Sin and meets the Minpins, matchstick-sized people who live in tree cities besieged by the Smoke-Belching Gruncher whom Billy vows to destroy.
Poetry (3)
- Revolting Rhymes
poetry-collection · 1982
Presents humorous retellings of six well-known fairy tales featuring surprise endings in place of the traditional happily-ever-after.
- Dirty Beasts
poetry-collection · 1983
A collection of humorous poems about amazing or nasty creatures, including a flying cow, a pig who turns the tables on a farmer, and crocodiles, lions, and anteaters who delight in devouring people.
- Rhyme Stew
poetry-collection · 1989
An illustrated collection of fifteen parodies ranging from skewered nursery rhymes to epic slapstick sagas.
Plays (1)
- The Honeys
play · 1955
Frequently asked questions about Roald Dahl
Who was Roald Dahl?
Roald Dahl was a British author, novelist, pilot, and screenwriter born in Llandaff, Wales, in 1916; he died in 1990.
Source: collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk (opens in a new tab)
What did Roald Dahl do before he became a writer?
Before becoming a writer, Dahl worked as a spy and served as a Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Second World War.
Sources: roalddahl.com (opens in a new tab)collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk (opens in a new tab)
What inspired Roald Dahl to write Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
While Dahl was at boarding school, a local chocolate factory invited pupils to test new chocolate bars; he later drew on that experience for the story.
Did Roald Dahl win a major literary award?
Yes. He won the 1983 World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement.
How is Roald Dahl’s legacy viewed today?
Dahl’s creative legacy remains influential through his stories, museum, and charitable work, but the Roald Dahl Story Company and museum also acknowledge and condemn his antisemitic remarks.
Sources: roalddahlmuseum.org (opens in a new tab)roalddahl.com (opens in a new tab)roalddahlcharity.org (opens in a new tab)