Examining the complicated legacy of Roald Dahl

Friday September 13 is #RoaldDahlDay, and fans all over the world are celebrating some of the best-loved children’s stories ever written. However, others are remembering the author’s views on the holocaust and questioning why the more controversial aspects of his legacy are rarely mentioned.

Did you know that Roald Dahl’s The BFG was inspired by his wife, Patricia Neal’s aphasia, a common condition that affects some people after a stroke?

Patrica Neal’s stroke provided more than just the inspiration of the BFG’s ‘Gobblefunk’ language. Roald Dahl’s fascination with medicine and his dedication to Patricia’s rehabilitation, led him to a life-long involvement with the Stroke Association. #RoaldDahlDay

But as many maybe celebrating his day other think that he was a terrible anti-Semite who thought “Hitler didn’t just pick on [the Jews] for no reason”. So they shouldn’t be celebrating it.