Roald Dahl the inventor - an inspiration piece

Willy Wonka

‘Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple.’ 

Willy Wonka in the 1971 film of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 

This month’s ‘Words & Pictures’ celebrates the genius that was Roald Dahl on the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In this inspiration piece, I want to focus on just one aspect of this far-from-cuddly but many-faceted man – his inventiveness. 

Immediately, many writers will think of his invented words – who would not love or at least admire such creations as horrigust, frothbungling and snozzcumber? Look how he has carefully separated the working parts of different words and then made a kind of cut-and-shut that actually works. All great fun.

But Dahl himself was also a practical inventor – and sometimes of serious things. He worked with an engineer and a neurosurgeon to create a ‘cerebral shunt’ – a valve for draining fluid from the brain. You can read more about it here in an article from the British Library. 

The "Little Dragon Carpet Sweeper" from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" © Elliott Brown

Since he loved gadgets, I wonder if he ever met Rowland Emett, the man who made the contraptions in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Dahl was involved in adapting the script from Ian Fleming’s story and the 50th Anniversary is in October. I mention the eccentric Mr Emmett because there is a joyous working exhibition of his machines on at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery until 21st September. I wouldn’t want you to miss it – think W. Heath Robinson in three dimensions. 

Girl inventing

Over to you Could one of your characters be an inventor? Could she make a life-saving device – or something wacky with a touch of Wallace and Gromit? Might there be invented words for this funky new technology? It doesn’t have to be the main character – maybe the antagonist makes fiendish devices. Like Dahl, let your inventiveness loose. 

By Philippa R. Francis who also writes as K. M. Lockwood

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K. M. Lockwood is a writing name of Philippa R. Francis. As well as being a regular contributor, Philippa (@lockwoodwriter) is also part of the Words & Pictures team as the @Words8Pictures Tweetmaster, growing our following and maintaining our 'Industry news' feed.