Behind the chocolate

For an authorized biography, Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl does a good job of showing both the good and the not-so-good sides of its subject. Even had Dahl not become a bestselling, beloved children's author, his life would have been a fascinating one. Poor in Britain to Norwegian parents, he flew a fighter pilot in the early days of World War II, was a spy in Washington for the remainder, married a famous actress, and helped pioneer medical advances after tragedy struck his own family.

Author Donald Sturrock doesn't hesitate to show the darker Dahl--misanthropic, touchy, hard to work with, grudge-holding, outspoken, prone to picking fights. There were a LOT of times when I felt that Dahl wasn't someone I'd want to know. Sturrock doesn't delve too much into the books and stories themselves, but provides enough information that in reading Dahl's work after this biography, I feel I have new insight into his books.

(Some of that, of course, might be because I'm reading them as a 30-something, not a 10-year-old.)

And it is impressive reading Dahl's stories. The style is just phenomenal. The books read as though he's talking to you. The books are clearly meant for children, and that's the voice of them, but in no way are they condescending. His language, his rhythm, his cadence...it's just so impressive.

Also, dude was a hottie. Seriously, it's no wonder he was seducing women all over the place during WWII. And I NEED to visit his house the next time I'm in England.