Category: Media

Esio Trot

Sections: Information | Description | Awards | Fun Stuff | Teacher Ideas | Covers | Penguin Readers, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Korean, Norwegian, Russian, Slovakian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Welsh Covers

Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

  • First editions:
    • Jonathan Cape, 1990, UK.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Used a standard single statement (‘First published’ followed by the date with later printings stated underneath) and published with a jacket priced at £6.95.
    • Viking, 1990, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Used a number line and published with a jacket priced at $14.95.
  • Buy this book:

Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.

Description

An ancient spell, 140 tortoises, and a little bit of magic…

Mr. Hoppy is in love with his neighbor, Mrs. Silver; but she is in love with someone else—Alfie, her pet tortoise. With all her attention focused on Alfie, Mrs. Silver doesn’t even know Mr. Hoppy is alive. And Mr. Hoppy is too shy to even ask Mrs. Silver over for tea. Then one day Mr. Hoppy comes up with a brilliant idea to get Mrs. Silver’s attention. If Mr. Hoppy’s plan works, Mrs. Silver will certainly fall in love with him. After all, everyone knows the way to a woman’s heart is through her tortoise.

Awards

  • Smarties Award (1990)

Fun Stuff

Esio Trot Quiz

Merchandise

Teacher Ideas

Covers

Penguin Readers Covers

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.

Bulgarian Covers – Костенурке, костенурке

Catalan Covers – Agu Trot

Chinese Covers

Dutch Covers – Ieorg Idur

French Covers – Un amour de tortue

German Covers – Ottos Geheimnis

Greek Covers – ΑΝΩ ΛΕΧ

Korean Covers – 아북거, 아북거

Norwegian Covers – Eddap Liks

Russian Covers – Ахап Ереч

Slovakian Covers – Akčan Tyrok

Spanish Covers – Agu Trot

Swedish Covers – Naddap Dlöks

Turkish Covers – Kaplumbaga

Vietnamese Covers – Chú rùa Alfie

Welsh Covers – Nab Wrc

The Enormous Crocodile

Sections: Information | Description | Reviews | Fun Stuff | Teacher Ideas | Covers | Penguin Readers, Bulgarian, Chinese, Dutch, Estonian, French, Greek, Norwegian, Russian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish, and Welsh Covers

Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

  • First editions:
    • Knopf, 1978, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Used a number line and a jacket priced at $4.95
    • Jonathan Cape, 1978, UK.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Used standard statement (‘First published’ followed by the date with later printings stated underneath) and published without a jacket and not priced (it is possible to find a sticker on the back panel marked: J.CAPE/£2.95 net/(line)/In U.K. Only)
  • Buy this book:

Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.

Description

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 tricks, so they scheme to get the better of this foul fiend, once and for all!

Reviews

  • “Paradoxes” by Mary Kenny from the December 16, 1978 issue of The Spectator (UK) (read online)
  • “A Dastardly Crocodile” by Belle Alderman from the July 14, 1979 issue of The Canberra Times – Canberra, Australia (read online)

Fun Stuff

The Enormous Crocodile Quiz

Merchandise

Teacher Ideas

Covers

Penguin Readers Covers

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.

Bulgarian Covers – Огромният крокодил

Chinese Covers

Dutch Covers – De Reuzenkrokodil

Estonian Covers – Koletu Krokodill

French Covers – L’énorme crocodile

Greek Covers – Ο ΠΕΛΩΡΙΟΣ ΚΡΟΚΟΔΕΙΛΟΣ

Norwegian Covers – Den Kjempestore Krokodillen

Russian Covers – Огромный Крокодил

Slovakian Covers – Obrovský krokodíl

Slovenian Covers – Gromozanski krokodil

Spanish Covers – ¡Qué asco de bichos! El cocodrilo enorme

Welsh Covers – Y Crocodeil Anferthol

Danny the Champion of the World

Sections: Information | Description | Reviews | Awards | Fun Stuff | Teacher Ideas | Covers | Penguin Readers, Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, French, Frisian, Galician, German, Greek, Hebrew, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Slovakian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Welsh Covers

Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

  • First editions:
    • Knopf, 1975, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Jill Bennett
      • To identify: Used a numberline with jacket priced at $5.95
    • Jonathan Cape, 1975, UK.
      • To identify: Used single statement as per normal practice (‘First published’ followed by the date with later printings stated underneath) with a jacket priced at £2.25
      • Illustrated by: Jill Bennett
  • Later editions:
    • Jonathan Cape, 1994, UK.
      • To identify: Used a number line and a jacket pricing of £8.99
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
    • Knopf, 2002, USA.
      • To identify: Used a number line in a non-priced jacket
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
  • Connections:
  • Buy this book:

Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.

Description

Can Danny and his father outsmart the villainous Mr. Hazell?

Danny has a life any boy would love—his home is a gypsy caravan, he’s the youngest master car mechanic around, and his best friend is his dad, who never runs out of wonderful stories to tell. But one night Danny discovers a shocking secret that his father has kept hidden for years. Soon Danny finds himself the mastermind behind the most incredible plot ever attempted against nasty Victor Hazell, a wealthy landowner with a bad attitude. Can they pull it off? If so, Danny will truly be the champion of the world.

Reviews

  • “The middle ground” by Isabel Quigly from the December 6, 1975 issue of The Spectator (UK) (read online)

Awards

  • Surrey School award (UK 1978)
  • California Young Reader Medal (USA 1979)

Fun Stuff

Danny the Champion of the World Quiz
Danny the Champion of the World Word Find
Danny the Champion of the World Word Find

Merchandise

Teacher Ideas

Covers

Penguin Readers Covers

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.

Bulgarian Covers – Дани – шампион на света

Czech Covers – Danny, mistr světa

Dutch Covers – Daantje, de wereldkampioen

Estonian Covers – Danny, maailma parim

French Covers – Danny, Champion du Monde

Frisian Covers – Lytse Daan, de Wrâldkampioen

Galician Covers – Danny, o campión do mundo

German Covers – Danny oder Die Fasanenjagd

Greek Covers – ΝΤΑΝΙ, Ο ΠΡΩΤΑΘΛΗΤΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΟΣΜΟΥ

Hebrew Covers

Korean Covers – 우리의 챔피언 대니

Lithuanian Covers – Denis pasaulio čempionas

Norwegian Covers – Danny og den store fasanjakten

Polish Covers – Danny, mistrz świata

Portuguese Covers – Danny, o Campeão do Mundo

Russian Covers – Дэнни – чемпион мира

Serbian Covers – Deni, prvak sveta

Slovakian Covers – Danny – majster sveta

Spanish Covers – Danny el campeón del mundo

Vietnamese Covers – Nhà Vô Địch Thế Giới

Welsh Covers – Danny Pencampwr Y Byd

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Sections: Information | Description | Reviews | Awards | Fun Stuff | Teacher Ideas | Covers | Afrikaans, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, Estonian, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hindi, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Slovakian, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese Covers

Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

  • First editions:
    • Knopf, 1972, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Joseph Schindelman
      • To identify: First Edition statement, jacket priced at $3.95
    • Allen & Unwin, 1973, UK.
      • Illustrated by: Faith Jaques
      • To identify: Standard practice statement (‘First published in Great Britain in’ followed by the date, no later dates or printing statements), no jacket and not priced
  • Later editions:
    • Unwin/Hyman, 1986, UK.
      • Illustrated by: Michael Foreman
      • To identify: Two publishing statements; the second reads ‘This edition published 1986’ with jacket priced at £7.50
    • Viking, 1995, UK.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Number line with jacket £9.99. Note: There is a variant jacket that is not priced and has no Viking logo on the spine
    • Knopf, 2001, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Number line with non-priced jacket
  • Previewed in:
    • “The Glass Elevator: Some Startling New Adventures with Charlie Bucket” published in August 18, 1972 issue of LIFE Magazine
  • Buy this book:

Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.

Description

Now that he’s won the chocolate factory, what’s next for Charlie?

Last seen flying through the sky in a giant elevator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket’s back for another adventure. When the giant elevator picks up speed, Charlie, Willy Wonka, and the gang are sent hurtling through space and time. Visiting the world’s first space hotel, battling the dreaded Vermicious Knids, and saving the world are only a few stops along this remarkable, intergalactic joyride.

Teacher Ideas

Reviews

Awards

  • Surrey School award (UK 1975)
  • Nene award (1978)

Fun Stuff

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator Quiz

Merchandise

Teacher Ideas

Covers

Afrikaans Covers – Charlie en die groot glashyser

Arabic Covers – تشارلي والمصعد الزجاجي العظيم

Bulgarian Covers – Чарли и Големият стъклен асансьор

Catalan Covers – Charlie i el gran ascension de vidre

Chinese Covers

Dutch Covers – Sjakie en de grote glazen lift

Estonian Covers – Charlie ja Suur Klaaskabiin

French Covers – Charlie et le grand ascenseur de verre

Galician Covers – Charlie e o grande ascensor de cristal

German Covers – Charlie und der Große Gläserne Fahrstuhl

Greek Covers – Ο ΤΣΑΡΛΙ ΚΑΙ Ο ΜΕΓΑΛΟΣ ΓΥΑΛΙΝΟΣ ΑΝΕΛΚΥΣΤΗΡΑΣ

Hindi Covers

Korean Covers – 찰리와 거대한 유리 엘리베이터

Norwegian Covers – Charlie og den store glassheisen

Polish Covers – Charlie i Wielka Szklana Winda

Portuguese Covers – Charlie e o Grande Elevador de Vidro

Russian Covers

Serbian Covers – Čarli i veliko stakleno liftalo

Slovakian Covers – Charlie a veľký sklený výťah

Spanish Covers – Charlie y el gran ascensor de cristal

Turkish Covers – Charlie’nin Büyük Cam Asansörü

Vietnamese Covers – Charlie và chiếc thang máy bằng kính

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Sections: Information | Description | Reviews | Awards | Articles | Criticism and Analysis | Fun Stuff | Teacher Ideas | Covers | Penguin Readers, Afrikaans, Arabic, Armenian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Scots, Serbian, Slovakian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Welsh Covers

Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

  • First editions:
    • Knopf, 1964, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Joseph Schindelman
      • To identify: Six line colophon that gives the paper manufacturer and published in a jacket priced at $3.95 and no SBN numbers on rear. – Note: this is actually really difficult, and Richard’s site there has a long section about it. If you want to definitively identify a Charlie Knopf first edition, head over there…
    • Allen & Unwin, 1967, UK.
      • Illustrated by: Faith Jaques
      • To identify: Standard practice statement (‘First published in Great Britain in’ followed by the date, no later dates or printing statements), no jacket and not priced
  • Later editions:
    • Knopf, 1973, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Joseph Schindelman
      • To identify: States ‘Revised Edition 1973’ listing 7 books at top of page
      • Changed black pygmy Oompa-Loompas to white fantasy Oompa-Loompas. (See Politically Correct Oompa-Loompa Evolution for more information.)
    • Unwin/Hyman, 1985, UK.
      • Illustrated by: Michael Foreman
      • To identify: Last of three statements reads ‘This edition published 1985’ with jacket priced at £6.95
    • Viking, 1995, UK.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Number line with jacket £9.99. Note: There is a variant jacket that is not priced and has no Viking logo on the spine
    • Knopf, 2001, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Number line with ‘Revised Edition’ underneath and published with non-priced jacket
  • Excised material:
  • Censorship:
    • Removed from a locked reference collection at the Boulder, Colo. Public Library (1988), where it had been placed because the librarian thought the book espoused a poor philosophy of life.
    • From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.
  • Recent news: 
  • Buy this book:

Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.

Description

Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory is opening at last!

But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

Reviews

Awards

  • New England Round Table of Children’s Librarians Award (USA 1972)
  • Surrey School award (UK 1973)
  • Millennium Children’s Book Award (UK 2000)
  • Blue Peter Book Award (UK 2000)

Articles

Criticism and Analysis

Fun Stuff

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Quiz

Merchandise

Teacher Ideas

Covers

Penguin Readers Covers

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.

Afrikaans Covers – Charlie en die Sjokoladefabriek

Arabic Covers – تشارلي وَمَصنَعُ الشوكولاتَه

Armenian Covers – Չարլին և շոկոլադի գործարանը

Bulgarian Covers – Чарли и шоколадовата фабрика

Catalan Covers – Charlie i la fàbrica de xocolata

Chinese Covers

Croatian Covers – Charlie i tvornica čokolade

Czech Covers – Karlík a továrna na čokoládu

Dutch Covers – Sjakie en de chocoladefabriek

Estonian Covers – Charlie ja šokolaadivabrik

French Covers – Charlie et la chocolaterie

Galician Covers – Charlie e a fábrica de chocolate

German Covers – Charlie und die Schokoladenfabrik

Greek Covers – Ο ΤΣΑΡΛΙ ΚΑΙ ΤΟ ΕΡΓΟΣΤΑΣΙΟ ΣΟΚΟΛΑΤΑΣ

Hindi Covers

Italian Covers – La Fabbrica Di Cioccolato

Japanese Covers

Korean Covers – 찰리와 초콜릿 공장

Lithuanian Covers – Čarlis ir šokolado fabrikas

Norwegian Covers – Charlie og sjokoladefabrikken

Polish Covers – Charlie i fabryka czekolady

Portuguese Covers

Russian Covers – Чарли и шоколадная фабрика

Scots Covers – Chairlie and the Chocolate Works

Serbian Covers – Čarli i fabrika čokolade

Slovakian Covers – Charlie a továreň na čokoládu

Spanish Covers – Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate

Turkish Covers – Charlie’nin Çikolata Fabrikasi

Vietnamese Covers – Charlie và nhà máy sôcôla

Welsh Covers – Charlie a’r Ffatri Siocled

The BFG, Matilda, and George’s Marvelous Medicine

Sections: Information | Fun Stuff | Covers

Information

  • First editions:
    • Jonathan Cape Ltd., 1992, Great Britain.
      • Published for W.H. Smith
  • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
  • Buy this book:

Fun Stuff

Covers

The BFG

Sections: Information | Description | Reviews | Awards | Articles | Criticism and Analysis | Fun Stuff | Teacher Ideas | Covers | Penguin Readers, Afrikaans, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Russian, Scots, Serbian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Welsh Covers

Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

  • Buy this book:

Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.

Description

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 would have soon become breakfast. When Sophie hears that the giants are flush-bunking off to England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!

Reviews

Awards

  • Federation of Children’s Book Groups Award (UK 1982)
  • Deutsche Jugendliteraturpreis (Germany 1984)
  • International Board on Books for Young People awards for Norwegian and German translations (1986)
  • Good Book Guide “Best Books of the Past 20 Years” (UK 1997)

Articles

Criticism and Analysis

Fun Stuff

The BFG Quiz
The BFG Trivia Quiz
My Visit to Gipsy House
Me with the real-life BFG from my visit to Gipsy House

Merchandise

Teacher Ideas

Covers

Penguin Readers Covers

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.

Afrikaans Covers – Die Groot Sagmoedige Reu

Bulgarian Covers – ГДВ

Catalan Covers – El gran amic gegant

Croatian Covers – BFG – Blagi Fantastični Gorostas

Czech Covers – obrDobr

Dutch Covers – De GVR

Estonian Covers – Suur Sõbralik Hiiglane

French Covers – Le Bon Gros Géant

German Covers – Sophiechen und der Riese

Greek Covers – Ο ΜΦΓ-Ο ΜΕΓΑΛΟΣ ΦΙΛΙΚΟΣ ΓΙΓΑΝΤΑΣ

Italian Covers – Il Grande Gigante Gentile

Korean Covers – 내 친구 꼬마 거인

Lithuanian Covers – DGM

Norwegian Covers – Stor Vennlig Kjempe

Russian Covers – БДВ, или Большой и Добрый Великан

Scots Covers – The Guid Freendly Giant

Serbian Covers – VDDŽ

Slovakian Covers – Kamoš obor

Slovenian Covers – VDV – Veliki dobrodušni velikan

Spanish Covers – El Gran Gigante Bonachón

Swedish Covers – Stora Vänliga Jätten

Turkish Covers – Koca Sevimli Dev

Ukrainian Covers – ВДВ, або Великий Дружній Велетень

Vietnamese Covers – Sophie và tên khổng lồ

Welsh Covers – Yr Cmm

My Year

Sections: Information | Description | Teacher Ideas | Covers

Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

  • First editions:
    • Jonathan Cape, 1993, UK.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Used a number line and published with a dust jacket priced at £8.99.
    • Viking, 1993, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
      • To identify: Used a number line and published with a dust jacket priced at $14.99.
  • Note: The text in this book was originally printed in The Dahl Diary 1992 published by Puffin Books.
  • Audio Books:
  • Buy this book:

Description

My Year contains some of Roald Dahl’s most remarkable writing and is based on a diary he wrote during the final year of his life. In a month-by-month journey, he reflects on the past and present from many perspectives. Reminiscences of his childhood and adolescence are combined with tips on how to rid your lawn of moles or produce a first-class conker. All of this is woven into Roald Dahl’s observations of the changing seasons. Sure to delight kids and adults equally, My Year features evocative watercolours by Quentin Blake.

Teacher Ideas

Covers

The Great Mouse Plot

Sections: Information | Covers | Czech Covers

Information

  • Published by:
    • Penguin, 1996, U.S.A.
  • Trivia:
    • Reached the number 1 spot following its release on World Book Day on March 3, 2016, according to Nielsen BookScan’s Total Consumer Market.
  • Buy this book:

Covers

Czech Covers – Velké myší spiknutí

Going Solo

Sections: Information | Description | Reviews | Fun Stuff | Teacher Ideas | Covers | Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Persian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Thai, and Turkish Covers

Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

  • First editions:
    • Jonathan Cape, 1986, UK.
      • To identify: Used a standard single statement (‘First published’ followed by the date with later printings stated underneath) and published with a jacket priced at £7.95.
    • Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1986, USA.
      • To identify: Used a First Edition statement and published with a jacket priced at $14.95.
  • Connections:
    • Over to You is a collection of short stories about pilots and flying, much of which is autobiographical and similar to the stories in this book
    • “Katina” tells a story set in the Greek campaign that Dahl describes in this book
  • Buy this book:

Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.

Description

In Going Solo, the world’s favourite storyteller, Roald Dahl, tells of life as a fighter pilot in Africa.

‘They did not think for one moment that they would find anything but a burnt-out fuselage and a charred skeleton, and they were astounded when they came upon my still-breathing body lying in the sand nearby.’

In 1938 Roald Dahl was fresh out of school and bound for his first job in Africa, hoping to find adventure far from home. However, he got far more excitement than he bargained for when the outbreak of the Second World War led him to join the RAF. His account of his experiences in Africa, crashing a plane in the Western Desert, rescue and recovery from his horrific injuries in Alexandria, flying a Hurricane as Greece fell to the Germans, and many other daring deeds, recreates a world as bizarre and unnerving as any he wrote about in his fiction.

Reviews

  • “Young Man, Old Empire, Bad War” by Gahan Wilson from the October 12, 1986 issue of New York Times – New York, USA
  • “More pleasure in Dahl’s accounts from life than from his fables” by Ralph Elliott from the February 14, 1987 issue of The Canberra Times – Canberra, Australia (read online)
  • Student Review by Melanie Burd

Fun Stuff

Sotheby’s Dahl Auction 1997

Teacher Ideas

Covers

Bulgarian Covers – Момчето пораства: приключения в Африка

Catalan Covers – Sol pel món

Czech Covers – Sólový let

Dutch Covers – Solo: 1938-1941

French Covers – Escadrille 80

German Covers – Im Alleingang

Greek Covers – Σόλο πορεία

Italian Covers – In solitario. Diario di volo

Norwegian Covers – På Egne Vinger

Persian Covers – سفر تک نفره

Russian Covers – Полеты в одиночку

Serbian Covers – Samostalni let

Spanish Covers – Volando solo

Thai Covers

Turkish Covers – Tek Başına