Timelines

This timeline contains all information about Roald Dahl’s life, the books he wrote, and movies, television shows, and theater productions he was involved in. It continues past his death to the present day (since new Dahl works are still being released).

1953

Married!

July 2, 1953 – Roald marries Patricia Neal.

1953

“Dog Race”

July 25, 1953 – “Dog Race” is published in The New Yorker magazine. (The story would be later republished as “Mr. Feasey.”)

1953

“Lamb to the Slaughter”

September 1953 – “Lamb to the Slaughter” is published in Harper’s Magazine.

1953

“The Devious Bachelor”

September 4, 1953 – “The Devious Bachelor” is published in Colliers magazine. (The story would later be republished as “Nunc Dimittis,” “A Connoisseur’s Revenge,” and “Twenty Years Younger.”)

1953

“Edward the Conqueror”

October 31, 1953 – “Edward the Conqueror” is published in The New Yorker magazine.

1953

“Galloping Foxley”

November 1953 – “Galloping Foxley” is published in Town and Country magazine.

1954

Gipsy House

Roald purchases “Little Whitefield” farmhouse (later renamed “Gipsy House”) in Great Missenden, England.

1954

“The Way Up to Heaven”

February 1954 – “The Way Up to Heaven” is published in The New Yorker magazine. (The story would be later republished as “Going Up.”)

1955

Olivia is born

April 20, 1955 – Daughter Olivia Twenty is born.

1955

The Honeys

April 28, 1955 – The Honeys (play) premieres on Broadway and closes after 36 performances.

1956

Le Coup du berger

 

Note: This film is not actually based on Dahl’s story “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”, but rather on the same apocryphal anecdote that Dahl based his story on.

1956

The Soldier

November 25, 1956 – The Soldier (opera) is performed in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.

1957

Tessa is born

April 11, 1957 – Daughter Chantal Sophia (renamed Tessa to avoid the rhyme) is born.

1958

“Parson’s Pleasure”

April 1958 – “Parson’s Pleasure” is published in Esquire magazine.

1958

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

April 13, 1958 – The first of many of Roald’s stories (“Lamb to the Slaughter”) appears as an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

1958

“An African Story”

October 1958 – “An African Story” is published in Jack London’s Adventure Magazine magazine.

1959

Kiss Kiss

1959

“The Champion of the World”

January 31, 1959 – “The Champion of the World” is published in The New Yorker magazine. (The story would be later republished as “Sitting Pretty.”)

1959

“The Landlady”

November 28, 1959 – “The Landlady” is published in The New Yorker magazine.

1959

“Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat” and “A Fine Son”

December 1959 – “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat” is published in Nugget magazine. “A Fine Son” is published in Playboy magazine. (The story would later be republished as “Genesis and Catastrophe.”)