The BFG, The Witches, Matilda
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Introduced by Donald Sturrock
Discover the fantastical worlds of The BFG, The Witches and Matilda in the second whizzpopping Folio Society set of much-loved Roald Dahl stories, featuring Quentin Blake’s iconic black-and-white illustrations and the classic texts.
‘Just because we happen not to have actually seen something with our own two little winkles, we think it is not existing.’
- The BFG
Three of Roald Dahl’s most whoopsy-whiffling books are presented in this delumptious cloth-bound set. Children will be delighted and petrified in equal measure as they meet the obnoxious witches, the fantastical and empowering Matilda and the loveable BFG whose book celebrates its 40th anniversary since publication. Illustrated with all of Quentin Blake’s original black-and-white watercolours, the editions also include beautiful metallic endpapers, ribbon markers and tactile cloth bindings in retro colours, each screen-printed with a Quentin Blake design. Dahl’s biographer Donald Sturrock introduces the books, which are presented in a screen-printed slipcase.
Bound in screen-printed cloth
Set in Baskerville
Vol 1 (The BFG): 216 pages, Vol 2 (The Witches): 208 pages, Vol 3 (Matilda): 240 pages
Black-and-white illustrations integrated with text throughout all volumes (278 in total)
Metallic printed endpapers
Ribbon markers
Screen-printed cloth slipcase
Book size: 9˝ x 5¾˝
Some of the most memorable children’s books have a dusting of truth or a pinch of personal experience woven into their pages and Roald Dahl’s are no exception. Childhood summers in Norway provided the inspiration for The Witches, with the endearing raconteur grandmamma reputedly based on Dahl’s beloved mother. The orphanage in The BFG was inspired by the village of Great Missenden where Dahl grew up, with the giant elevated to a starring role in this story, having first appeared in Dahl’s earlier book, Danny the Champion of the World; the only character to feature in more than one of Dahl’s stories. And as an act of literary revenge upon his ex-school matrons and masters, the terrifying Miss Trunchbull in Matilda is a hideous embellishment of their less salubrious traits.
Roald Dahl stumbled into children’s writing by accident. While working on a short story collection for adults, he struggled with writer’s block and his agent suggested he try writing for a younger audience and ‘re-indulge yourself in the realm of fantasy writing at which you are so very good’. The genre suited him perfectly and within the space of a few years, his darkly comic and gloriously gruesome stories earned him global renown and countless awards. From James and the Giant Peach (1961) to Matilda (1988), Dahl’s memorable tales still entertain children today and strike a reminiscent chord with adults alike. He remains one of the most successful and best-loved children’s authors in the world.
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
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