Roald Dahl (Sept. 11, 1916 — 23 Nov. 23, 1990) was a much-loved British writer primarily known for his children’s books. These include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox, The BFG, The Twits, and George’s Marvelous Medicine. All together, his works have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide; several have been made into lucrative Hollywood movies.
There was another, less endearing side to Dahl: He was an avowed antisemite and hater of Israel. Members of his family recently issued an apology for his openly stated antisemitic beliefs. Not everyone has been impressed, however. This from a report on Fox News:
“A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘The admission that the famous author’s antisemitic views are “incomprehensible” is right. For his family and estate to have waited thirty years to make an apology, apparently until lucrative deals were signed with Hollywood, is disappointing and sadly rather more comprehensible.’ ”
Quotes: “There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity, maybe it’s a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews. I mean, there’s always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere. Even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.”
“I’m certainly anti-Israeli and I’ve become anti-Semitic in as much as that you get a Jewish person in another country like England strongly supporting Zionism.”
“It’s the same old thing: we all know about Jews and the rest of it. There aren’t any non-Jewish publishers anywhere, they control the media — jolly clever thing to do — that’s why the president of the United States has to sell all this stuff to Israel.”
Sources: NewYorkPost.com, TheGuardian.com, FoxNews.com
Learn more about Roald Dahl on Wikipedia. >>
Read “Roald Dahl’s family quietly issues apology for late author’s anti-Semitism” [italics added]. >>
Photo: 7 News
We welcome your comments. Click here.