Roald Dahl, Matilda

Paola Trimarco (The Open University)

Ed. by Dimitra Fimi, University of Glasgow
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Kerry Myler (Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1988

Places

Wales (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Children's Literature
Novel

Resources

First published in 1988, Matilda is considered one of Roald Dahl’s most popular children’s books and is among the most well-known children’s books of the twentieth century. Winning the Children’s Book Award in 1989, it appeared after the commercial success of James and the Giant Peach (1961), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) and The BFG (1982). Like these and several other children’s books by Dahl, Matilda includes illustrations by Quentin Blake.

A large part of the novel’s popularity has been its appeal to parents and educators as the character of Matilda promotes reading. “The symbolic power that this iconic figure holds, for …

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2688 words

Citation: Trimarco, Paola. "Matilda". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 September 2021 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=10437, accessed 07 May 2024.]

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