Happy Roald Dahl Day!

If you're a Facebook or Twitter user, you may already know that today is Roald Dahl Day! I was pleased to read about it on my morning bus commute, and it seems like perfect timing, since I'm currently working on a story about Dahl, written by Olivia Herstein, for the November issue of Viking.

I think most people are familiar with Dahl's work. (Anyone heard of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," " James and the Giant Peach," or "Matilda," by any chance?) But while his work is well-known, readers are probably less familiar with the author's life. For example, did you know that Dahl, who was born in Wales, was the son of two Norwegians? You might have read his story "The Witches," but did you know that the author created the wise and wonderful Grandmother character as a tribute to his own mother, Sofie? You also might be surprised to learn that Dahl spent his summers with his family on the Norwegian island of Tjøme, which he called "the greatest place on Earth."

To learn more about Roald Dahl's life and his Norwegian influences, be sure to check out the November issue of Viking!

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in Northfield, Minn., where she’s a member of Nordmarka 1-585.