Roald Dahl: Children’s friend or foe?

With books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches and Matilda, Roald Dahl is a towering figure in children’s literature. His wildly imaginative tales have enthralled and delighted young readers the world over. But some critics argue his works contain anti-child messages, with unfavourable depictions of children deserving of the torment inflicted upon them by their adult oppressors.

So whose side was he on? Dr Kate Cantrell, Lecturer in Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Southern Queensland, joined Hear and There presenter Nathan Reynolds to discuss the life and literature of Roald Dahl.