Letter by Roald Dahl criticising an eight-year-old girl’s poem goes up for auction
Roald Dahl’s harsh letter criticizing the poem sent to him by an eight-year-old girl was revealed 36 years later.
Although Dahl was a popular children’s author who sold more than 250 copies of his beloved books, he was also known as a bully in private. And he was at his harshest when criticizing the format of the poem.
He told the schoolgirl’s teacher that her poem was ‘exceptionally good for her age’, but added that she ‘committed the usual crime of not being able to scan her lines properly’.
Dahl later blames the teacher for this, saying, ‘I am constantly amazed that scanning lines in poetry is not taught in schools.’
The embattled teacher from a primary school in Buckinghamshire has had the letter since 1990 but is now selling it for an estimated £400 at Plymouth Auction Rooms in Devon.
Comes with original poem written by his student.
The typewritten letter, signed by Dahl in blue ink, reads: “I have received Nicola’s poems and they are extremely good for someone of her age, except that Nicola commits the usual crime of not scanning her lines properly.
“I’m constantly amazed that scanning lines in poetry isn’t taught in schools. Scanning syllables is such an easy thing for kids to understand.”
Dahl died that year at the age of 74.
Paul Keen, auctioneer at Plymouth Auction Rooms, said: “This letter gives a glimpse into the character of Roald Dahl, showing both his encouragement of young talent and his characteristically direct views.”
Dahl’s most famous books include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and James, and The Giant Peach.
It has sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, but publishers have recently attempted to censor portions of its books deemed offensive to today’s readership. In one such change, in the 2023 edition, publisher Puffin changed Augustus Gloop from ‘enormously fat’ to ‘enormous’.
The sale will take place on April 28.
