Re-Noted: P.S. Roald Dahl's World War II Notes & His Writing Ritual

"I was able to ask pointed questions and get equally pointed replies because, theoretically, I was nobody."

Before Roald Dahl became a beloved children’s author, he was a pilot in the Royal Air Force and a British spy. As a spy, he gathered information to help Winston Churchill strengthen British-American relations during WWII. Dahl befriended FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt, and other high ranking officials. As a dashing 6’6” Brit in a uniform, he seduced diplomats’ wives. According to some, Dahl—the dashing, philandering Brit—was the model for James Bond.¹

Here are some of Dahl’s notes from his time as a pilot and a spy. And, because I couldn’t resist, I’ll end this postscript with a glimpse into his delightful writing hut.

Roald Dahl escorts Ernest Hemingway (novelist and war correspondent) in 1944

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The rest of this post is for paid subscribers. You can read my full essay on Roald Dahl for free here.

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