ROALD DAHL
Roald Dahl was a spy, ace fighter pilot, chocolate historian and medicalinventor. He was also the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,Matilda, The BFG and many more brilliant stories. He remains theWorld’s No.1 storyteller.
CHARMING BAKER
Born in Hampshire in 1964, Charming Baker spent much of his early lifetravelling around the world following his father, a commando in theBritish Army. At the age of twelve, he and his family finally settled inRipon, North Yorkshire. Baker left school at sixteen and worked in variousmanual jobs. In 1985, having gone back to college, he was acceptedon to a course at the prestigious Central Saint Martins, where he laterreturned as a lecturer. After graduating, Baker worked for many yearsas a commercial artist as well as developing his personal work.
Solo exhibitions include the Truman Brewery, London, 2007, RedchurchStreet Gallery, London, 2009, New York Studio Gallery, NYC, 2010,Mercer Street, London, 2011 and Milk Studios, LA, 2013. Baker hasalso exhibited with the Fine Art Society, collaborated with Sir PaulSmith for a sculpture entitled Triumph in the Face of Absurdity, whichwas displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and continues to becommitted to creating work to raise money for many charities. He hasrecently been commissioned to be a presenter on The Art Show. His workis in many international collections.
Although Baker has produced sculptural pieces in a wide and variedchoice of materials, as well as many large-scale and detailed drawings,he remains primarily a painter with an interest in narrative and anunderstanding of the tradition of painting. Known to purposefullydamage his work by drilling, cutting and even shooting it, Bakerintentionally puts in to question the preciousness of art and the definitionof its beauty, adding to the emotive charge of the work he produces.Indeed, Edward Lucie-Smith has described Baker’s paintings as having,‘something more, a kind of romantic melancholy that is very British.And sometimes the melancholy turns out to have sharp claws. Thepictures make you sit up and examine your conscience.’
Charming Baker lives and works in London.
CRUELTYTales of Malice and Greed
Even when we mean to be kind we can sometimes be cruel. We each havea streak of nastiness inside us. In these ten tales of cruelty Roald Dahlexplores how and why it is we make others suffer.
Among others, you’ll read the story of two young bullies and the boy theytorment, the adulterous wife who uncovers her husband’s secret, the manwith a painting tattooed on his back whose value he doesn’t appreciateand the butler and chef who run rings around their obnoxious employer.
DECEPTIONTales of Intrigue and Lies
Why do we lie? Why do we deceive those we love most? What do we fearrevealing? In these ten tales of deception Roald Dahl explores our tirelessefforts to hide the truth about ourselves.
Here, among many others you’ll read about how to get away withthe perfect murder, the old man whose wagers end in a most disturbingpayment, how revenge is sweeter when it is carried out by someone elseand the card sharp so good at cheating he does something surprisingwith his life.
LUSTTales of Craving and Desire
To what lengths would you go to achieve your heart’s desire? In these tentales of maddening lust Roald Dahl explores how our darkest impulsesreveal who we really are.
Here you will read a story concerning wife swapping with a twist, hear ofthe aphrodisiac that drives men into a frenzy, discover the last act in a taleof jilted first love and discover the naked truth of art.
MADNESSTales of Fear and Unreason
Our greatest fear is of losing control – above all, of losing control ofourselves. In these ten unsettling tales of unexpected madness Roald Dahlexplores what happens when we let go of our sanity.
Among other stories, you’ll meet the husband with a jealous fixation onthe family cat, the landlady who wants her guests to stay for ever, the manwhose taste for pork leads him astray and the wife with a pathological fearof being late.
FEARTales of Terror and Suspense
Do you like feeling scared? Featuring fourteen classic spine-chilling storieschosen by Roald Dahl, these terrible tales will have you shivering as youturn the pages.
They include such timeless and haunting tales as Sheridan Le Fanu’s‘The Ghost of a Hand’, Edith Wharton’s ‘Afterward’, Cynthia Asquith’s‘The Corner Shop’ and Mary Treadgold’s ‘The Telephone’.
INNOCENCETales of Youth and Guile
What makes us innocent and how do we come to lose it? Featuring theautobiographical stories telling of Roald Dahl’s boyhood and youth as wellas four further tales of innocence betrayed, Dahl touches on the joys andhorrors of growing up.
Among other stories, you’ll read about the wager that destroys a girl’s faithin her father, the landlady who has plans for her unsuspecting young guestand the commuter who is horrified to discover that a fellow commuteronce bullied him at school.
TRICKERYTales of Deceit and Cunning
How underhand could you be to get what you want? In these ten tales ofdark and twisted trickery Roald Dahl reveals that we are at our smartestand most cunning when we set out to deceive others – and sometimeseven ourselves.
Here, among others, you’ll read of the husband and wife and the partinggift which rocks their marriage, the light fingered hitch-hiker and thegrateful motorist, and discover how sleeping pills can aid a little bit ofserious poaching.
WARTales of Conflict and Strife
In war are we at our heroic best or our cowardly worst? Featuring theautobiographical stories from Roald Dahl’s time as
