It was even deemed an “essential food” during World War II. Chocolate, meanwhile, had become affordable for many American and British households by the late 1930s and was at that point no longer considered a luxury item. Charlie specifically makes note of The Lone Ranger, which was adapted into a television series in the 1950s and then into a 1961 feature film. Ed or, indeed, the entire premise of the sci-fi series The Twilight Zone. The Oompa-Loompas’ song about television states that television “ makes a child so dull and blind / he can no longer understand / a fantasy, a fairyland !” This can be read as a jab at television shows that featured fantastical elements or circumstances, such as the titular talking horse in Mr. In particular, the way that Dahl portrays Mike Teavee reads as a condemnation of television-which, by the 1960s, had become a staple in many upper-middle-class people’s homes. Published in the 1960s, it’s possible to see the influence of mid-20th-century culture and media on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Dahl is often considered one of the most influential British authors of the late 20th century. His novels have sold millions of copies and remain immensely popular. In his lifetime, Dahl was a fierce advocate for immunization-his daughter died of measles in 1962-and posthumously, Felicity Dahl created Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity to support sick children. Dahl was married twice, first to actress Patricia Neal and then to Felicity Dahl. 1961’s James and the Giant Peach, however, catapulted him to fame and became the first of his many successful children’s novels. Throughout the 1940s and 50s, Dahl published a number of short stories for adults as well as The Gremlins, his first book for children. During his time in the U.S., Dahl published his first story, anecdotes about his time as a pilot. He flew again and served briefly as a flight instructor after his recovery, but then became a diplomat in Washington, D.C. In 1940, Dahl was seriously injured in a crash landing that temporarily robbed him of his sight.

Following school, Dahl worked for Shell Oil until World War II, in which Dahl served as a fighter pilot. However, Dahl’s school days were unpleasant for him-he hated the hazing rituals and prevalence of corporal punishment. Rather than return to Norway to live near family, Dahl’s mother remained in Wales so her children could be educated in English schools. When he was still very young, Dahl’s sister and father died within weeks of each other. Dahl was born in Cardiff, Wales to Norwegian immigrant parents.

Charlie chocolate factory book