Roald Dahl was a British author of popular children's literature, a poet, screenwriter, and a wartime fighter ace. His books have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, earning him a reputation as "one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century".

Born in Wales to affluent Norwegian immigrant parents, Dahl spent most of his life in England. He served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War, becoming a fighter pilot and subsequently, an intelligence officer, rising to the rank of acting wing commander. He became one of the world's best-selling authors, with his works for both children and adults. His awards for literature include the 1983 World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement and the British Book Awards' Children's Author of the Year in 1990. In 2008, The Times placed Dahl 16th on its list of "The 50 Greatest British Writers Since 1945". In 2021, Forbes ranked him the top-earning dead celebrity.

Dahl's short stories are known for their unexpected endings, and his children's books for their unsentimental, macabre, often darkly comic mood, featuring villainous adult enemies of the child characters. His children's books champion the kindhearted and feature an underlying warm sentiment. His notable works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox, The BFG, The Twits, George's Marvellous Medicine, and Danny, the Champion of the World. His works for older audiences include the short story collections Tales of the Unexpected and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More.