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Roald Dahl

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Going Solo Paperback – January 1, 2001

by Roald Dahl (Author)

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Book 2 of 2: Roald Dahl's Autobiography

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Book 2 of 2

Roald Dahl's Autobiography
Print length

224 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Gardners Books
Publication date

January 1, 2001
Dimensions

5.04 x 0.59 x 7.8 inches
ISBN-10

0141311428
ISBN-13

978-0141311425
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gardners Books (January 1, 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0141311428
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0141311425
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.1 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.04 x 0.59 x 7.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #12,260,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #359,412 in Teen & Young Adult Books
- #802,974 in Biographies (Books)
- #3,680,409 in Literature & Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
2,430

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Roald Dahl

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The son of Norwegian parents, Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916 and educated at Repton. He was a fighter pilot for the RAF during World War Two, and it was while writing about his experiences during this time that he started his career as an author.

His fabulously popular children's books are read by children all over the world. Some of his better-known works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda, The Witches, and The BFG.

He died in November 1990.

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4.7 out of 5

2,430 global ratings

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Yane

Amazing Book, A must read!

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2024

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This is such a well written book that took me on unimaginable adventures. From Dar es Salaam to Greece to Palestine. This author is so honest, and he tells his story so clearly and vividly that we can envision it. I found this book so refreshing and enlightening. I respect how the author tells his story from his own observations without sugar coating or showing bias. This book was fun, insightful and a world class. I’ve gifted copies to friends and family!

2 people found this helpful

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Timothy J. Bazzett

Terriffic story-telling from a charming guy

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2008

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Another writer once told me that one of the most important elements to be found in a memoir is a "likeable" narrator. Roald Dahl is perhaps one of the MOST likeable of narrators. Modest to a fault and blessed with a very sly and subtle sense of humor, the story Dahl tells in GOING SOLO, his sequel to BOY, is perhaps one of the most readable memoirs of modern times. His story of the quick and almost informal training he received at a flying school in Africa shortly after Great Britain entered WWII, is hair-raising and nearly impossible to believe, except you do believe, because you trust this man. At six foot six inches tall, Dahl was physically quite unsuited to be a fighter pilot, noting that when seated in the various planes he flew, his knees were nearly under his chin and he had to hunch over to fit beneath the plane's canopy. But fly he did, even after surviving one horrific crash in the desert early on in his career as an RAF pilot. He sustained a very bad concussion (which was to come back to haunt him and finally "invalid" him out of service nearly two years later) and had his face bashed in. As he explained to his mother in a letter: "My nose was bashed in ... and the ear nose and throat man pulled my nose out of the back of my head and shaped it and now it looks just as before except that it's a little bent about ..." Dahl went on to fly many combat missions in North Africa and Greece, usually against vastly superior odds, but somehow he managed to survive until the middle of 1941, when the migraine headaches caused by the aforementioned crash made him unfit for further flying. Dahl's nearly laconic and completely unself-conscious manner of writing about the things he did - absolutely heroic things - made me think of Sam Hynes's WWII memoir of his missions in the Pacific theater. Both writers downplay the importance of their roles. They never speak of heroics or derring-do, only about the importance of their comrades, doing the jobs they were trained to do and trying their best to simply stay alive. This was an enormously satisfying, moving and often hilarious tale. After reading these two slim volumes of memoirs by Dahl, I do wish he had written another. I have ordered his slim collection of stories about WWII already. What a wonderful writer - and gentleman - Roald Dahl was. - Tim Bazzett, author of SOLDIER BOY and LOVE, WAR & POLIO

17 people found this helpful

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andrea c. themistocleous

Ronald Dahl rocks 🤩

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024

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Honestly, I love everything by RD but I bought this book because I saw a video of a nun talking about it. It’s based on his actual real-life travels, and in it, it tells of a conversation he had with a Jewish man in which it is clear the land belongs to Palestinians 💙 I’ll find the actual page & paragraph & edit this to include it

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Gregory Hannan

Very interesting read about a man's life during the late 1930s in Africa and the early part of WWII.

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2020

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Looking forward to reading many more of his works. Roald seems to have a good grasp of the details of his life.

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D. B. Hopkins

Fine book; excellent writing

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2014

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Fine book; excellent writing. This is the personal tale of a master storyteller with experiences that are ordinary, yet extraordinary. As a young man working in Africa, Dahl signs up for the air corps and finds himself flying planes he was never taught to fly in battles that were never planned to be. What is most exciting about this book is that real life is more dramatic than anything that a fiction writer could dream up. It is one of the top five books I have read this year, and would highly recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure. It is hard to portray what it's like to be up there in a Hurricane with enemy fighters after you, but Dahl does it with aplomb. I will wait a while and read this one again!

8 people found this helpful

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Fritz Steiner

Going Solo

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2011

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This is one of the most interesting and interestingly written books in recent memory. I devoured it,

It was a delightful, personal description of Dahl's journey to East Africa, his work there in an outpost of the far flung British Empire -- a world that would never again be seen. He describes with engaging candor his role in how the British "muddled through" WWII -- just.

The Brits would have one believe that all went "according" to plan -- that the issue was never in doubt -- but Dahl's charming account of how he learned to fly the Tiger Moth for the RAF and how he became an "instant" Hurricane fighter pilot in Greece were convincing evidence to the contrary.

Easy reading!! Highly recommended!!

Fritz Steiner

2 people found this helpful

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MamaHippo

An unexpected treat

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2020

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My daughter decided we need to read ALL Roald Dahl books. I had not read this one as a kid. I learned so much about the history of World War Two and the history of the man. A remarkable story. Highly recommend for any fan of Roald Dahl or anyone interested in World War Two.

4 people found this helpful

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Jasmine Kang

Exceptional couldn't keep it down

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021

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I give it 5 stars for the beautiful writing. I was transported into the war and felt the excitement and trepidation a young person embarking on such a journey. The vividness of the scenery that Roald Dahl describes during his time in Africa, southern Europe and middle East captures the emotions of a young adventurer who is earnestly exploring his new environment and absorbing the experiences.
Absolutely love the book.

2 people found this helpful

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Bluenosepiperflyer

Wonderful

Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2022

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I like all of Roald Dahl's books, but this is I think my favorite. Unlike the books for which he is most famous, it is nonfiction. It is a memoir relating to the lead up to World War II and learning to fly in the Royal Air Force in World War II.

david canford

loved it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2023

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Before reading this book, I had only known Roald Dahl as a children’s author through reading his novels to my children when they were young. It turns out he wrote for adults too, including this autobiography which covers his life from about 1938 to 1942. You’ll learn of his life in Tanzania before WW2 began, and his time in the Royal Air Force in North Africa, Greece, and the Middle East. It’s a miracle he survived. The horror of war is brought home by his comment that of the sixteen men he trained with, two years later thirteen were already dead.
Superbly written and with some excellent observations. For example, driving from Tanzania to Nairobi in Kenya to sign up to become a fighter pilot, he watches a family of elephants and describes them as living a life of 'absolute contentment' - no predators to fear except for ‘foul human hunters' - and as creatures wiser and with a better life than him who was off to kill Germans or be killed by them.
I loved this book.

Nilüfer Sayed

A must for all young learners!

Reviewed in India on November 12, 2023

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There is a chapter on Palestine and Syria. The encounter with the Jewish man was insightful to say the least. It shows the determination of the Zionist Jew. A short enlightening narrative of the crafty way it all happened. My respect and appreciation of this great writer has grown. This book should be in every child's library. The evidence that Palestine did indeed exist and will continue to exist. The fact that Roald Dahl makes it very clear, in plain child-friendly terms, the absurdity of the mind-set of this Jewish refugee is laudable! Roald Dahl 💜

6 people found this helpful

Sylvain Thi

Superbe

Reviewed in France on April 2, 2018

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Superbe livre qui fait la suite de Boy. On voyage en Afrique, on découvre des gens loufoques, des cultures différentes, une époque différente... Puis on part dans la guerre, et là encore c'est un tout nouveau cadre de vie ! Et pour ma part, je dois avouer que la fin du livre m'a beaucoup ému (mais je n'en dis pas plus ;-)).

Je suis et resterai toujours éberlué par la capacité de Roald Dahl à respecté tout le monde, voir le bon côté des choses... Il a vécu beaucoup de choses difficile, mais il en parle sans amertume ni regret.

Dommage qu'il n'y ait pas un troisième livre !

One person found this helpful

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