Reading these letters was like looking into the mastermind behind one of the world's greatest children's authors. Roald Dahl is widely recognized as the author Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and Matilda. But what many people don't know is the life he had before he put pen to paper. It all started in 1925, when he was nine years old. He began writing letters to his mother from boarding school. His over-imaginative mind was already churning when he told her stories about his playmates. Throughout the years, he matures greatly. Seeing that first letter and comparing it with on of his last letters in 1965 shows immense change. Reading his stories of being in the R.A.F. army gave insight to what turned him into the man he became. The letters he sent home to his mother were often full of adventures. He traveled from Norway to England to Africa and eventually to the states. He spent many dinners with President Roosevelt. Walt Disney approached him with movie ideas. He even passed time with his longtime hero Ernest Hemingway.
These letters weren't just letters, they were the beginning of his storytelling life. He wrote for the New York Times, Reader's Digest, and a slew of others. It wasn't until he was well into his 30's, married, and with children before he found the inspiration for his first children's book.
I loved reading this and I highly suggest Love From Boy to anyone who is a fan of Roald Dahl or is an avid children's book reader!
