Last week we looked a short, funny version of Little Red Riding Hood by James Thurber. I feel sure that today's version by beloved British author Roald Dahl was influenced by Thurber.
Undoubtedly you know Roald Dahl. He is considered one of the best loved modern British children's authors having written such works as The Witches, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, the BFG and The Twits just to name a few. He is also responsible for his unsettling tales for adults entitled Tales of the Unexpected which were adapted rather badly for the small screen. (They really are crap. Read the stories. They really are genius.)
He was born in Wales to Norwegian immigrants, served in the RAF in WWII and wrote one of the best short stories about his experience as a fighter pilot entitled Beware of the Dog. He wrote two cracking biographies of his life entitled Boy and Going Solo which really are ripping yarns.
This poem comes from his hilarious collection of fractured fairy tales entitled Revolting Rhymes.
We have this on audio CD, but I have found it on video where someone shows the pictures while the CD plays. It is read by the wonderful actress Prunella Scales (Sybil faulty from Faulty Towers) and her equally talented husband the actor Timothy West.
It is best known for delighting school children who dissolve into giggles at the way he rhymes the words flickers and knickers. (Knickers being underwear, specifically ladies underwear for my American peeps.)
You can see how he is clearly influenced by Thurber's version.
That's all for this week. Stay tuned next week for a Riding Hood of a different colour.
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