Boy: Tales of Childhood

This is the first part of Roald Dahl’s autobiography, covering his childhood years from birth in 1916 until working for the Shell company from 1934-36 on the eve of his departure to Tanzania on a 3-year posting (these years in Africa are detailed in the follow-up book, ‘Going Solo’).Much of the book details his schooldays, including unhappy years as a boarder at a repressive prep school in Weston super Mare and subsequent time at Repton, where he eventually became a respected sports team ‘captain of fives’ and the squash team and the only-ever sports team captain not made a prefect due to his rebellious, anti-establishment nature.Spliced in-between the schoolday stories are tales of the family’s annual summer holiday expeditions to Norway to live on remote idyllic islands for weeks at a time, a hair-raising first experience in a motor car driven by his elder sister who crashed and injured young Roald so badly that his nose was almost severed, and having his adenoids removed with a sharp knife and without anaesthetic by a local doctor, after which he walked home (!) with his mother.Dahl is such an excellent writer that he makes everything interesting. He deploys great economy of language and has an engaging, conversational writing style. The book is basically highlights of the author’s first 20 years, including some highly traumatic incidents, always recounted with humour and great self-awareness and decorated with Dahl’s own distinctive cartoon-sketches of some of the episodes. It’s an easy read and you can finish the book in a few hours.You will also likely want to read the follow-up book ‘Going Solo’ which details the author’s time working in Tanzania in the late 1930s, training as a fighter pilot in the RAF and experience of combat in a Hurricane in the Mediterranean theatre facing the numerically superior forces of the Luftwaffe.Highly recommended.

I read this book chapter by chapter to my daughter as a bed time story each night. When I finished Dahl’s probable first autobiography (my own interpretation) she asked if I could read it again. A beautiful story of Dahl’s early years.Just a footnote, In Scandinavia Roald is pronounced Roo’ald.

Boy. Boy is this a book and a half. Well what can I say? It says what it is...Boy. Well chosen design to sell that says; Boy... Blue. Please do not mix this up with Girl... though girls will also enjoy this novella, please do not get me wrong. Many a time have I been in THAT sweetshop... I will stop there before I set anyone out to any mischief and God forbid anyone misses a game of a #wellknowngame #floss to go out and have fun.

I bought this for my husband as a prequel to reading 'Going Solo'. He is not a keen reader but is getting through the chapters quickly and enjoys the clear printing and easy style even when the content is emotional.

I loved this book when I read it when I was younger, so thought I'd re-read it. It has lost none of its magic. A lovely read about the early life of Roald Dahl. The illustrations are brilliant too.