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The BFG / Matilda / George's Marvellous Medicine
Omnibus edition includes
The BFG
Matilda
George's Marvellous Medicine
The BFG
Matilda
George's Marvellous Medicine
560 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
26 people are currently reading
460 people want to read
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,477 books26.7k followersRoald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 1, 2012
This is a story about a big friendly giant, who snatches a little girl called Sophie from her bed and whisks her off to giant land. We find out that he isn’t as big or scary as Sophie first thinks; when we arrive in giant land and all the other giants are much larger and much more terrifying, gobbling up little boys and girls. We realise that the BFG actually only eats ‘snozzcumbers’ and not children at all. The friendship between the BFG and Sophie is heart-warming as they blow pleasant dreams into the bedrooms of little children.
What a lovely story for children, Dahl has a way with words that shapes the imaginations of children, and encourages them to be experimental with language, in a way that few others manage. The playful language given to the BFG is wonderfully inventive, as is Dahl’s language throughout his works. A great book for children aged 7-11. A great read-aloud book, which will have groups of children engaged, and thoroughly enjoying the playfulness of the language.
What a lovely story for children, Dahl has a way with words that shapes the imaginations of children, and encourages them to be experimental with language, in a way that few others manage. The playful language given to the BFG is wonderfully inventive, as is Dahl’s language throughout his works. A great book for children aged 7-11. A great read-aloud book, which will have groups of children engaged, and thoroughly enjoying the playfulness of the language.
July 6, 2022
Rather enjoyed this child break so that I'm not constantly reading about mutilated bodies and such, but I would rate the stories as:
1st: George's marvelous medicine - short and fun, although it has a real abrupt end which I do not care for 😠
2nd: BFG - is a close 2nd, but does quite a bit of repeating to get the word count up, but does have a cute ending
3rd: Matilda - was a good read, but I feel its a tad boring.
1st: George's marvelous medicine - short and fun, although it has a real abrupt end which I do not care for 😠
2nd: BFG - is a close 2nd, but does quite a bit of repeating to get the word count up, but does have a cute ending
3rd: Matilda - was a good read, but I feel its a tad boring.
October 26, 2009
IT ROCKS
May 8, 2013
Another classic Roald Dahl tale, this book is about an eight year old boy called George, who lives on a farm with his mother, father and grandmother. One day, his mother and father go out, leaving George and his grandmother at home together. George's mother reminds George to give his grandmother her medicine each day. George finds his grandmother grumpy and mean, and finds that she has a negative attitude towards him. After finding out a few dark secrets, George decides to give Grandma a taste of his own homemade medicine!He makes this by gathering different products from around the house, such as shampoo, animal pills and many more gruesome items. When it is time for her medicine, George gives her a spoonful of the medicine which he made. After giving her this, his grandmother ends up taller than the house.
The children in my Year Two class on SBT2 loved this book, and they came up with their own marvellous potions as a literacy task.
The children in my Year Two class on SBT2 loved this book, and they came up with their own marvellous potions as a literacy task.
September 25, 2019
Excellent fun and really funny I can’t wait to read it to my grandchildren
April 11, 2016
Kids love all his books
October 8, 2017
Roald Dahl is considered one of the great children's writers of the 20th century, and I can see why. His children's stories are highly original, and his use of language is unique.
However, I have very mixed feelings about his work, and in most of his stories I find a streak of nastiness and a tendency to extreme caricature which I don't personally like. His many evil characters are without any positive features, which, while it may make for entertaining reading for children - and is consistent with the tradition of fairytales in which ogres and other malefactors are thoroughly evil - does not reflect human nature, and does not convey an impression to young readers which I would wish to convey. These characters do not tend to be redeemed. This is interesting - and again, consistent with many fairy tales - but I find it disturbing. In the same tradition, the good characters in Dahl's books are almost unequivocally good, without significant flaws.
This compendium contains three well-known stories. The BFG is a particularly memorable story which I consider one of his greatest, with its touching relationship between a "good" and kindly giant, who is a runt and castoff among his own kind, and a little girl. This relationship is developed more fully than some others in Dahl's tales, and is genuinely sweet but not soppy. Among its other virtues, the book conveys a laudable message of non-violence and humane action, sometimes lacking in Dahl's other work, and it is allowed that the man-eating giants may not be able to help their nature, and are no worse than animal-eating humans. Indeed, it is even suggested that humans are worse, being the only creatures which kill their own kind (which even giants never do.) Although the giants' malapropisms (more or less) get a wee bit trying after a while, the dialogue is done very well and is mostly amusing and effective. Like many of Dahl's tales, the structure of the story is somewhat uneven, with a protracted first half in which the true aim and motivation of the tale which drives the second part is not really developed. But overall this story on its own is one of Dahl's very best and deserves five stars.
Matilda seems to be many people's favourite Dahl stories, but this is one in which I find the caricature characters particularly disturbing. The Dickensian influence is obvious, but to take it to this extreme in the latter part of the 20th century is problematic in my opinion. There is also a worrying class bias, in which the "bad" parents are portrayed as caricatures of the then working class, with no virtues of any kind and no love for their children, and the "good" schoolteacher is the daughter of a doctor. The ogreish headmistress is extreme. None of these "bad" characters undergo any development throughout the story, nor any kind of redemption. I find this leaves a rather nasty taste in the mouth. Similarly, the unpleasant tricks which the small child prodigy Matilda plays on her parents are never considered as anything other than fully justified, which I also find a little worrying, and her severance from her natural parents at the end is presented as an unequivocally good thing. This lack of complexity in human natures and relationships is problematic. Many children, especially if they feel lonely and neglected, may fantasize at times about the benefits of losing their parents, but the reality of such situations is almost invariably entirely different, and such fantasies should not necessarily be encouraged.
I find the third story in the book, George's Marvellous Medicine, almost impossible to read. I know that others like it, but I do not. Among other problems, I find the endless list of the ingredients of George's medicine very trying and dull to read, but this is as an adult, and some children will enjoy it.
However, I have very mixed feelings about his work, and in most of his stories I find a streak of nastiness and a tendency to extreme caricature which I don't personally like. His many evil characters are without any positive features, which, while it may make for entertaining reading for children - and is consistent with the tradition of fairytales in which ogres and other malefactors are thoroughly evil - does not reflect human nature, and does not convey an impression to young readers which I would wish to convey. These characters do not tend to be redeemed. This is interesting - and again, consistent with many fairy tales - but I find it disturbing. In the same tradition, the good characters in Dahl's books are almost unequivocally good, without significant flaws.
This compendium contains three well-known stories. The BFG is a particularly memorable story which I consider one of his greatest, with its touching relationship between a "good" and kindly giant, who is a runt and castoff among his own kind, and a little girl. This relationship is developed more fully than some others in Dahl's tales, and is genuinely sweet but not soppy. Among its other virtues, the book conveys a laudable message of non-violence and humane action, sometimes lacking in Dahl's other work, and it is allowed that the man-eating giants may not be able to help their nature, and are no worse than animal-eating humans. Indeed, it is even suggested that humans are worse, being the only creatures which kill their own kind (which even giants never do.) Although the giants' malapropisms (more or less) get a wee bit trying after a while, the dialogue is done very well and is mostly amusing and effective. Like many of Dahl's tales, the structure of the story is somewhat uneven, with a protracted first half in which the true aim and motivation of the tale which drives the second part is not really developed. But overall this story on its own is one of Dahl's very best and deserves five stars.
Matilda seems to be many people's favourite Dahl stories, but this is one in which I find the caricature characters particularly disturbing. The Dickensian influence is obvious, but to take it to this extreme in the latter part of the 20th century is problematic in my opinion. There is also a worrying class bias, in which the "bad" parents are portrayed as caricatures of the then working class, with no virtues of any kind and no love for their children, and the "good" schoolteacher is the daughter of a doctor. The ogreish headmistress is extreme. None of these "bad" characters undergo any development throughout the story, nor any kind of redemption. I find this leaves a rather nasty taste in the mouth. Similarly, the unpleasant tricks which the small child prodigy Matilda plays on her parents are never considered as anything other than fully justified, which I also find a little worrying, and her severance from her natural parents at the end is presented as an unequivocally good thing. This lack of complexity in human natures and relationships is problematic. Many children, especially if they feel lonely and neglected, may fantasize at times about the benefits of losing their parents, but the reality of such situations is almost invariably entirely different, and such fantasies should not necessarily be encouraged.
I find the third story in the book, George's Marvellous Medicine, almost impossible to read. I know that others like it, but I do not. Among other problems, I find the endless list of the ingredients of George's medicine very trying and dull to read, but this is as an adult, and some children will enjoy it.
August 13, 2018
Roald Dahl (September 13, 1916 to November 23, 1990) was a British author who penned 19 children's books over his decades-long writing career. In 1953 he published the best-selling story collection Someone Like You and married actress Patricia Neal. He published the popular book James and the Giant Peach in 1961. In 1964 he released another highly successful work, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was later adapted for two films.
September 30, 2021
So there is a girl named Sophie and her parents died before she was born. She is not sad about her parents dead because she never met them. But she does have to go to a orphanage which is like a foster home. While she was there in the middle of the night other Giants besides the BFG would soon be having breakfast what they eat for breakfast is nice little chiddlers. So her and the BFG are trying to help stop them!
January 3, 2023
I thought this book was a great read. It had sad moments and funny moments . The truchball was my favorite character in this book. The main reason I loved this book was that it was not very predictable . For instance the last book I read I read 2 chapters and I figured out the ending . It also makes you have a lot of Emotions. Like when Matilda decided to live with miss honey or Jenny. I recommend this book to children like me who love a funny fiction read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2021
I found BFG more funny as an adult and George's Marvellous Medicine was quite short and simple but very relaxing to read on a sunny day. Matilda however disappointed me because all the adults wasn't enjoyable to read about even Miss Honey.
April 8, 2022
Loved both The BFG and Matilda. Loved Dahl’s dark humor and social commentary woven into his brand of children’s fiction. But there was just something lacking about George’s Marvelous Medicine that made it feel like a child-friendly South Park episode.
July 9, 2017
Can't I Read this book
January 9, 2019
I really love the way of writing of Roald Dahl he is very funny and he knows how to catch you.
May 17, 2019
3 of Roald Dahl's best!
May 12, 2020
Really cool thanks
May 26, 2024
bfg❤️🥹❤️🥹❤️🥹
ketawa bgt sama bahasanya bfg🤣🤣🤣
"is it right or is it left?"
"two rights don't make a left."
"it serves them right, left, and centre."
ketawa bgt sama bahasanya bfg🤣🤣🤣
"is it right or is it left?"
"two rights don't make a left."
"it serves them right, left, and centre."
November 10, 2014
As a child, I adored Roald Dahl's work. The BFG and Matilda may have even been two of my favourites; I love the fictional worlds Dahl creates within the pages.
The BFG is about The Big Friendly Giant who is eager to befriend children and innocently kidnaps one. A funny book to enjoy as, or with, a kid.
Matilda is about a young girl brought up in an unloving household but cared for by a doting teacher. Aside from her family life, Matilda discovers a unique power.
George's Marvellous Medicine is about a young boy living with his slightly-crazy grandmother. One day, George creates an inventory that will change the world.
Definitely all worth a read. :)
The BFG is about The Big Friendly Giant who is eager to befriend children and innocently kidnaps one. A funny book to enjoy as, or with, a kid.
Matilda is about a young girl brought up in an unloving household but cared for by a doting teacher. Aside from her family life, Matilda discovers a unique power.
George's Marvellous Medicine is about a young boy living with his slightly-crazy grandmother. One day, George creates an inventory that will change the world.
Definitely all worth a read. :)
November 28, 2018
I borrowed this book from a friend because The BFG and George's Marvellous Medicine were those two Roald Dahl books that I didn't get a chance to read as a kid, so I wanted to catch up on that. I never realised until now, now that I am reading it as an adult, the dark undertones of Roald Dahl's stories. The BFG and George's Marvellous Medicine, especially the latter, had plenty of those. This collection also included Matilda which I enjoyed a whole lot as a kid, but now that I am forced to look back on the stories I enjoyed as a kid with an adult's perspective, I discovered that Matilda wasn't all that happy fantasy that I used to think it was either.
April 1, 2013
George's grandma has some pretty odd views. In fact, she's not a very nice person at all. She thinks caterpillars and slugs are delicious and likes to crunch on beetles best of all. George can do nothing right in Grandma's eyes, so when it's time for her medicine he decides to give her a dose of his own special brew.
This book is great for children who have always dreamed to be mischievious towards their grandparents but never can, its funny to watch this boy acting horrid towards his grandma and get away with it. I reccommend this book for any child or adult that have a mischievious side.
This book is great for children who have always dreamed to be mischievious towards their grandparents but never can, its funny to watch this boy acting horrid towards his grandma and get away with it. I reccommend this book for any child or adult that have a mischievious side.
Read
February 4, 2009I love this book. He forgot the gin. I found that to clue to an underlying meaning about the book I don't know if Dahl purposely inferred. It is that everything is different without alcahol. It easpecially showed this with George's family. This is very true. It also showed the difference with alcahol is a negitive one. I was 110% terrified by George's grandmother.
April 27, 2025
Purchased in Eason's O'Connell Street many many years ago. I lent this out to my younger siblings and reclaim it
Great set of stories, one wonders what children get out of them as you reread them in adulthood.
Definitely most identified with George's medicine brewing, but the other two stories in the omnibus are fun.
Great set of stories, one wonders what children get out of them as you reread them in adulthood.
Definitely most identified with George's medicine brewing, but the other two stories in the omnibus are fun.
Read
June 8, 2016this book and funny and when I was reading this I said I don't know why he wants to give is grandma a new medicine that he came up with and she did all types of things like she flew up in the air then turn fat then she was hot she was burning up it was it was soo funny when she turned all the animials tall like she was I cant wait to read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2016
I read this one so much it started to fall to bits lol, a definite childhood favourite. All three of these stories will capture your imagination whether young or old. Dahl has a clear talent for providing just enough to get your imaginative juices flowing
March 3, 2013
Fantastic book for kids! So imaginative and creative. Easy read that children will find delightful!
Roald Dahl is always brilliant! His stories and rhymes are fun and entertaining! Some of my all time favorites!! Such a great way to entertain children and get them interested in reading!
Roald Dahl is always brilliant! His stories and rhymes are fun and entertaining! Some of my all time favorites!! Such a great way to entertain children and get them interested in reading!
October 9, 2013
best book ever!!!! this book has a lot of character to it and it is just an amazing book! you have never read the best book on earth till you read this one! this book is recommended! :) _emma lee palmer
June 24, 2008
i think this book was great because it was really different form other books. what i learn form this book was that everyone should be belive in there self.
October 18, 2008
This author knows how to entertain the brain of kids and adults who think they are kids.
March 3, 2009
Love these books still read them when I need a laugh or a reminder of years past!!! I will read them to my children!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews