Roald Dahl and His Chocolate Factory Paperback – January 1, 2002

I know that some readers may view the Horribly Famous series as jocular and trivial. However, this Dahl biography appealed instantly to me. Donkin's writing style is engaging and sparky in a way that Dahl would have approved of. He allows the reader to know the different facets of Dahl's life away from his well-known career as a children's writer.I liked the way it was thorough, presenting the main points of Dahl's life from cradle to grave. The book is very well paced and does not dwell too much on points. The lively illustrations punctuate the text and give readers in-depth yet quick insights into such things as Dahl's tricks and Quentin Blake's background. I like the way that we are introduced to his books bit by bit, as punctuation to particular episodes in his life. For instance, Donkin presents a quick guide to The Witches after the section on the Great Mouse Plot. I like this style because it gives us time to connect the influences to the books.I recently reviewed the Rosen biography of Dahl on these forums. What I like about this book compared to the Rosen book is the cogency, coherence and flow. It's substantial to appeal to older readers, yet light enough for younger readers to devour it in one sitting.It's a shame that this book is out of print, like many of the Horribly Famous titles. In any case this Dahl biography is an unbeatable presentation of his life story.

good