About the author

Roald Dahl was born in 1916 in South Wales, Britain. His parents were
Norwegian immigrants. He trained as a fighter pilot, and during the Second
World War, he flew bomber planes in Libya, Greece and Spain. In 1940,
Dahls plane crashed in a Libyan desert, and Dahl suffered serious injuries.
In 1942, Dahl began working at the British Embassy in Washington, DC.
While working at the embassy, he met the writer C.S. Forester, who
advised him to write about being shot down in a Libyan desert. Dahl
immediately wrote his first short story, and ten days later, it was accepted
for publication. It was the beginning of what was to become an
extraordinary literary career. Dahl soon became a highly successful short
story writer. His most famous short story collection is entitled Kiss Kiss,
which was published in 1959.
In 1953, Dahl married the actress Patricia Neal, and the couple moved to
England the following year. They had four children, the oldest of whom
died at the age of seven, sending Dahl into a deep depression. Failing to
overcome their problems, the couple divorced in 1983, and Dahl remarried
several years later. In 1960, Dahl started writing stories to amuse his
children. Many of his childrens books went on to become international
bestsellers, and children from all over the world began writing to him. In
addition, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, James and the
Giant Peach, Danny the Champion of the World and The BFG all became

successful films, making Dahl one of the most accomplished childrens

writers in the history of the genre. Dahl died in 1990 at the age of seventyfour.

Matilda is a young girl of genius intelligence, having developed skills such as walking and
speech at early ages. However, these prodiguous characteristics displayed by her character are
perpetually ignored by her wealthy, neglectful, dimwitted parents who deem their daughter's
incredible literacy skills and knowledge as worthless and spend more time watching
television. Angered by her parents' ignorance and rudeness towards her, Matilda's vindictive
side is shown through the vengeful practical jokes that she plays on her parents after they've
done wrong against her (such as replacing her father's hair oil with her mother's platinum
blonde hair dye and filling her father's favorite hat with Superglue). After entering
kindergarten, Matilda's sweet-natured teacher Miss Honey takes an immediate interest in the
girl's kindness and intelligence, but is shocked upon her mother and father's lack of regard for
her and carelessness about their child's wisdom. Matilda is also frequently challenged by the
behavior of the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who disciplines students through
what can best be described as extreme child abuse for little misdeeds. Upon learning of how
the life of Miss Honey, who happens to be Miss Trunchbull's niece, has been so negatively
affected by her aunt's abuse, Matilda is inspired to put her newly-discovered telekinetic
abilities to good use in assisting her beloved teacher in her time of need by writing on a
chalkboard posing as Miss Honey's deceased father Magnus, who died a mysterious death. A

petrified Miss Trunchbull is compelled by Matilda's prank to leave Miss Honey her proper
inheritance before suddenly vanishing. After her family flees the country on the run from the
police because of Mr. Wormwood's deceit in the automotive industry, Matilda is adopted by
Miss Honey, thus providing her with a more loving home.