Early drafts of Roald Dahl's Matilda were WAAAAAAAY different than the finished product.

Thank goodness he changed it: Matilda is one of my all-time faves.

From the New Yorker:

But in early drafts of “Matilda,” Dahl had painted her as a wicked child who uses telekinesis to fix a horse race, a pursuit that ultimately kills her. Although Dahl was known for archness, even cruelty—remember Violet Beauregarde, in Willy Wonka’s factory, blowing up into a huge blueberry—the new book seemed unusually savage.

The article is actually more about the stage production of Matilda, but WOW. I clearly really need to read Storyteller.

Comments

[Sheila Ruth]

Matilda is one of my favorites, too. I read a bio of Roald Dahl some years ago, and apparently Matilda wasn't the only book that was drastically changed from his first draft. Apparently his editor (I've forgotten the name) had a lot to do with helping to shape the books that we know and love.

[Leila]

Was it the bio I linked to? I know there are a few.