Harald Dahl’s Life: A Tale of Triumph and Tragedy
Harald Dahl’s Life
Early Life and Accident
Harald Dahl, Roald Dahl’s father, lived in Sarpsborg, Norway, with his brother Oscar. At fourteen, Harald fell from the roof while replacing tiles, breaking his left arm. A drunken doctor mistook the fracture for a dislocated shoulder, causing further injury.
Ambitions and Dreams
Harald and Oscar shared boundless ambitions of fortune and living abroad in France or England. Defying their father’s wishes, they escaped to France, eventually separating to pursue independent lives. Oscar settled in La Rochelle, becoming a collector of fine art and books. Harald remained in Paris, partnering with Aadnesen as shipbrokers.
Family Life and Loss
Harald married Marie, a French woman, and they settled in Llandaff, Wales, with two children. Tragically, Marie died after giving birth to their second child. Grief-stricken, Harald returned to Norway seeking a new wife to care for his children. He found Sofie, and they returned to Llandaff, where they had four more children. Harald became an expert gardener and author.
Further Tragedy and Resilience
At age three, Roald Dahl lost his older sister Astri to appendicitis. Later, Harald died of pneumonia at 57. Despite these hardships, Sofie remained in Wales to fulfill Harald’s wish for their children to receive an English education.
Childhood Memories
Roald Dahl’s early memories include attending Elmtrel House kindergarten and Llandaff Cathedral School. He fondly recalled walking home with friends, stopping at the sweetshop owned by the unpleasant Mrs. Pratchett. Her dirty appearance and mean demeanor made her a figure of fear and fascination for the young boys.