Did you know that this Saturday is Roald Dahl Day 2014? September 13th was the legendary authors’ birthday and so the day is now a celebration of his talent and his life’s work.

Roald Dahl certainly inspired a generation of children to fall in love with his quirky characters, twisting plots and surprise endings, and teamed with the brilliant illustrations of Quentin Blake, his books were, and still are, favourites with kids and adults across the world.

But, did you know that this world-famous writer was born in Wales? Roald Dahl was born on the 13th September 1916 in Llandaff, not far from Wales’ capital city Cardiff. His parents were Norwegian and had come to Wales at the end of the 19th Century, and although his father sadly passed away in 1920, the family remained in Cardiff where the young Roald went to primary school in Llandaff.

By Eirian Evans on Wikimedia Commons

Dahl didn’t really start his writing career until after World War II, in which he served as a fighter pilot and an intelligence officer. His first published book for children was called The Gremlins, in 1943, although it isn’t now one of his most well-known books. Roald Dahl went on to become one of the most well-loved, and prolific, children’s writers of the 20th century.

And to honour this literary legend and to commemorate his connection with Wales, a section of Cardiff Bay was renamed as the Roald Dahl Plass in 2002.

Who doesn’t remember hiding under the duvet with a copy of The BFG, or making potions in the bathroom like a scene from George’s Marvellous Medicine or hoping, wishing and praying for a golden ticket every time you opened a chocolate bar, just like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

And so, in celebration of Roadl Dahl day 2014, we’ll be digging out one of our old favourite Dahl books and re-reading it from cover to cover. Which one was your favourite? See our list of best-selling Roald Dahl books below.

• James and the Giant Peach (1961)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)
• The Magic Finger (1966)
• Fantastic Mr Fox (1970)
• Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (1972)
• Danny, Champion of the World (1975)
• The Enormous Crocodile (1978)
• The Twits (1980)
• George’s Marvellous Medicine (1981)
• The BFG (1982)
• The Witches (1983)
• The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me (1985)
• Matilda (1988)
• Esio Trot (1989)

How many have you read?