Good boy: Childhood stories

Author: Dahl
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: A thin, bald old man with a perpetual mischievous grin, no matter where he traveled—America, Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Australia, or New Zealand (and even China)—he would knock on any house with children and say, "Ah, I'm tired from walking, my car ran out of gas. May I come in for a cup of tea?" The children would immediately scream with joy and welcome him in, because no child didn't know this old man—he was the magical, slightly frightening to adults but utterly captivating to children Roald Dahl. This is an autobiography that Dahl himself was reluctant to call an "autobiography," yet it truthfully records his life during his childhood and youth. The time span covers from 1916 to 1936, from his birth to the year he left school and joined the Shell Oil Company. Dahl's work at Shell Oil and his thrilling experiences during World War II, when he joined the Royal Air Force, are recorded in his other autobiography, My Unbelievable Life.
Dahl was reluctant to call it an autobiography and stated that such books are often "filled with tedious details," a claim that once drew criticism for being contradictory. However, this criticism was based on a misunderstanding. In Dahl's view, a true autobiography should be completely faithful, detailing every aspect of one's life or a particular stage as accurately as possible, without omitting any details. Yet, what he recorded was selective—only the humorous, painful, and unpleasant experiences that remained vividly imprinted in his memory were preserved and written down. It is precisely because Dahl chose what to record that these two autobiographies became such fascinating stories, deeply touching both young and old readers, much like the fairy tales and novels he created.
Due to his naturally humorous, adventurous, and imaginative personality, and his constant pursuit of the thrilling aspects of life, whether intentionally or not, his stories themselves can be said to be incredibly exciting and humorous. This is a rare and invaluable autobiographical story.