Matilda

1988

Adapted into a movie and two stage musicals, this 1988 novel is one of Dahl’s most revered.

Highly intelligent youngster Matilda is ill-treated by her parents and her headteacher, but finds an ally in her nursery teacher, Miss Honey.

Matilda discovers she has the power to move things with her mind which she uses to take revenge on the headteacher, giving both Matilda and Miss Honey a better life.

The stage version has been called the best British musical since Billy Elliot by critics.