Matilda

All of Roald Dahl's key works contain common features that make his books special and unique. Apart from gripping tales of the unexpected, the key reason for their appeal is in the treatment of the baddies in the story. However, Dahl counters this rollicking, uproarious and wicked humour with deep relationships between the young protagonist and a sensible grown-up in his social circle. This theme features throughout most if not all his works, and was first introduced when he wrote Danny, the Champion of the World, maturing when Dahl wrote The BFG, The Witches (Puffin Novels)and Matilda. On the surface, Matilda may be a gripping yarn that revolves around Matilda's environment of Crunchem Hall Primary School and the domain of fearsome Miss Trunchbull, arguably the most revolting villain that Dahl ever created. This harks back to his own dark days as a student. As with all his books, Dahl keeps his audience of young readers in mind. Not only is his style easily accessible and lively, but he sides with his young audience through his writing, He draws the characters of Miss Trunchbull and Matilda's repulsive parents such that they convey revolting personas and you wouldn't want to befriend them. Dahl particularly draws the character of the Trunchbul effectively such that we readers can really feel her as a "holy terror that frightend the life out of the pupils and teachers alike". I admit that this book dwells a little too much on the Trunchbull's torturous punishments, but these only serve to make the Trunchbull more real. A signature twist to make this a tale of the unexpected is when Miss Honey reveals that Matilda's father was a crook who sold stolen cars. However, the understated core of the book should be Matilda herself and her relationship with Miss Honey. His portrayal of this relationship offers distinct echoes of Danny's relationship with his father in Danny the Champion of the World. From the moment that Dahl first introduces us to Matilda's maturity, we know that we are getting to know an extraordinary little girl. In spite of her sensitive and brilliant mind, she is a character who engages our sympathies. Matilda always strives to break free of the thrall of her crooked family, especially her father, who acts and talks like a gangster towards her. This serves to make the tricks she plays on her parents not just hmorous clowning around, but rather compelling. In a way this is reminiscent of the tricks that thw Twits play on each other. Matilda strikes up an acquaintence with Miss Honey and quickly learns of Miss Honey's situation. She is then able to do things in her power to help her and restore her rightful claim to her father's inheritance. This may appear to be self-interest on Matilda's part, but sshe does this because she shows a genuine sympathy to Miss Honey's plight. In short, this swansong in Dahl's long children's novels stands as an undisputed masterwork and demonstrates the maturity in Dahl's children's writing. It's truly a work that shows Dahl at the top of his game, at the pinnacle of his writing career, and sums up all that his children's writing has come to stand for. (Apparently he spent 20 years writing this book.) Although I could have done with less coverage of the Trunchbull's cruelty, this book is still an undisputed Dahl classic that deserves to be up there with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox and The BFG.

Brilliant story

The several regular readers of my reviews – and now that I have my own blog, I know how many (or few) there are – will know that I recently participated in a challenge to ‘read a book set in another world’. This gave me an opportunity to rediscover the work of Roald Dahl, whose books I adored as a child and which are now being loved by my 8 and 6-year-old nephew and niece all over again. So when I saw that the next challenge was to ‘read a children’s classic’, there was really only one choice. To re-read what was absolutely my favourite Dahl book of them all: Matilda. Why? Several reasons. The characters are just – there’s no other word – perfect. Matilda herself, the astonishingly gifted and yet modest child prodigy who had taught herself to read by the time she was three and do long multiplications by the age of five. Matilda’s weaselly parents, her father in particular, who is so self-absorbed in his own (misguided) belief that he is a genius that he fails to even notice the amazing talents of his daughter right under his nose. The formidable headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who, in common with many other Dahl baddies, manages to be terrifying and yet hilarious at the same time. And the wonderful teacher Miss Honey, who is the first adult to appreciate Matilda for who she is and treat her almost as an equal. Even though your own children’s talents are more modest, don’t you want them to have a teacher like that? Then there’s the storyline. Matilda’s little acts of mischief to get back at adults who have behaved unfairly towards her had my nephew – and probably me at a similar age – rubbing his hands together in glee. (Though if he ever tries any of them on me, I may have to do a Trunchbull myself and throw him out of a window.) This though, for me, is why Matilda is just so special. It manages like nothing else I’ve read before or since to convey the wonderful power of reading. I remember first reading it at the age of 10 or so and being inspired to read Animal Farm by George Orwell and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. (I think I tried something by Dickens as well, but he proved to be well out of my league. He probably still is.) Dahl’s own critique of CS Lewis, as voiced through the words of a small child, is nothing less than brilliant. But perhaps most of all, I just love, love, love this quote: “The books transported her into new worlds and introduced her to amazing people who lived exciting lives. She went on olden-day sailing ships with Joseph Conrad. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and to India with Rudyard Kipling. She travelled all over the world while sitting in her little room in an English village.” Having read it again as an adult, I actually feel a bit disappointed in myself that I haven’t read anything by Hemingway or Kipling. But this just shows how long the written word can continue to inspire. Thanks entirely to Dahl, more than 30 years after his death, I may have to do something about that.

Timeless classics. Roald Dahl never disappoints.

Dahl’s writing weaves an intricate spell that has you getting lost in the tale and characters he has crafted, his work is a delight for children and adults alike. Matilda’s parents are even more odious in this than in the 1996 movie and there are charming scenes in this not found in the movie. The first half of the book I adored and the second half remained entertaining. This is so staying in my re-read pile. 99p on Amazon 13th September 2019.

Fabuleuse histoire, mais difficile à lire pour mes élèves de 6e. Néanmoins, le challenge a été relevé. Le livre est la version originale et non modifiée.

اشترته

I bought this book for the daughter of a friend of mine because it was one of my favourite books growing up. I don't really know if she enjoyed it or not though.

I received it not clean, and poor condition.

Buen libro y entretenido