by croissants on 3/9/25, 2:59 AM
I'm not sure what word to apply to facing three familial tragedies, any one of which might seem like more than a life's fair share of misfortune, with that kind of perseverance. Inspiring is too glib, inhuman is too alienating. Whatever kind of mettle that is, I hope to never have to prove it.
by mortar on 3/9/25, 1:36 AM
by morkalork on 3/9/25, 4:16 AM
The fascinating thing about Roald Dahl is that the children's books he wrote are the least interesting thing about his life and when you try to tell anyone about it they just look at you dumbfounded because it sounds so unbelievable.
by Sir_Twist on 3/9/25, 1:34 AM
by Red_Comet_88 on 3/9/25, 4:40 AM
I am thankful that there are some challenges that providence has deemed fit to deny me.
by fumeux_fume on 3/9/25, 6:12 AM
> “Let the girls get measles,” he told her, “it will be good for them.”
Eerily ominous.
by jonstewart on 3/9/25, 2:16 PM
by nxobject on 3/9/25, 5:31 AM
In these times the saddest tragedy here is that Dahl was so preoccupied with medical care and expertise for his family – and the one time he let up, his daughter died because his brother-in-law thought "let the girls get measles[...] it will be good for them".
by nxobject on 3/9/25, 5:25 AM
I can see a little bit about what inspired the "spark" of his children's books – love, but also a need for escapism, normal but heroic figures in the middle of bewildering and impossible situations, nurturing. It think Danny, Champion of the World, was the first children's book he wrote approximately after this time period?
by vr46 on 3/9/25, 9:33 AM
We could do with wider knowledge of a complicated man. My friend's husband wrote a fabulous play about a short period in Dahl's life centred around antisemitism, which was directed by Nicholas Hytner at the Royal Court. I suspect that it was done to improve public relations after various overblown controversies there, but that is not to take away from the writing and performance.
The other context around Israel invading Lebanon in 1982 was given to me (I was too young at the time to have a clue about anything) by another (Jewish) friend, a biographer of Primo Levi, who said, "I believe Israel had the sympathy of the world until they invaded Lebanon," in a conversation about how those who claim to be virtuous by invoking victimhood.
Dahl never invoked that himself, but with wider knowledge of his life and a more critical view of Israeli history, we can see what a complex polarized mess this is with little chance of redemption for either, although it is interesting that one man has generated disproportionate column inches compared to a country.
by bosky101 on 3/9/25, 9:10 AM
I had no idea. Was most of his work before or after these tragedies. Hope he had a peaceful death himself financially not in turmoil.
I hope most of the pain and death we see in the world today seem like solved problems many years from now. Much like the health issues faced by his family.
by mmaunder on 3/9/25, 4:57 AM
I had no idea Roald’s life was mired in such tragedy. Stephen King’s book on writing is autobiographical and worth a read. Similar revelations if you don’t know much about him.
by UltraSane on 3/9/25, 5:45 PM
writing about your son's penis like that is weird as hell.
by felixyz on 3/9/25, 5:42 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measles:_A_Dangerous_Illness> "Measles: A Dangerous Illness" is an open letter written by the children's writer Roald Dahl in 1986 in response to ongoing cases of measles in the United Kingdom at that time despite the introduction of an effective measles vaccine in 1968.
by alexey-salmin on 3/9/25, 6:46 AM
Damn this is so painful to read
by lr4444lr on 3/9/25, 3:34 AM
My sympathy for Roald Dahl can only go so far given his rabid antisemitism.