• Boy

  • By: Roald Dahl
  • Narrated by: Dan Stevens
  • Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (660 ratings)

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Boy  By  cover art

Boy

By: Roald Dahl
Narrated by: Dan Stevens
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Publisher's summary

Where did Roald Dahl get all of his wonderful ideas for stories? From his own life, of course! As full of excitement and the unexpected as his world-famous, best-selling books, Roald Dahl's tales of his own childhood are completely fascinating and fiendishly funny. Did you know that Roald Dahl nearly lost his nose in a car accident? Or that he was once a chocolate candy tester for Cadbury's? Have you heard about his involvement in the Great Mouse Plot of 1924? If not, you don’t yet know all there is to know about Roald Dahl. Sure to captivate and delight you, the boyhood antics of this master storyteller are not to be missed!

©2009 Roald Dahl (P)2009 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Roald Dahl sometimes shared a tonal kinship with Ogden Nash, and he could demonstrate a verbal inventiveness nearly Seussian...[His] stories work better in audio than in print.” (The New York Times)

What listeners say about Boy

Average customer ratings
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Listened and Read This a Few Times!

Would you listen to Boy again? Why?

Yes - there is just something that feel so natural about this book and all the stories. Dahl is a author who's writing is effortless to read (and in this case listening too!)

What about Dan Stevens’s performance did you like?

I have 2 other books with Dan as the narrator. He has a suave tone that just feels right for most books!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were two chapters that made me cringe - but it is only because they are a little graphic and I am a wimp when it comes to anything medical.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Horrifying and Delightful

Reader Dan Stevens does a splendid job bringing mean-spirited candy-shop owners and bull-headed prefects to life in these memories of Dahl's childhood. He captures Dahl's voice beautifully-- bubbling with the dark humor and pranskter-pleasure that are such powerful ingredients in all Dahl's writing. I found myself recounting bits of this book to friends and family, and I very much look forward to listening to "Going Solo" soon.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

non fiction and wonderful!

If you could sum up Boy in three words, what would they be?

a funny elegance

Who was your favorite character and why?

Roald Dahl is the primary character and this is about himself as a boy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I didn't really want to listen to this all in one sitting...I wanted to hear something courageous and humorous outside of my immediacy to lull me into smiling may way to dreams and because I fall asleep before it's over, I have the pleasure of listening again.

Any additional comments?

If you compare this to Roald Dahl himself reading his own stories...this was better. Dan Stevens made a very good story, excellent.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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A good introduction to Dahl

I have never read Roald Dahl's books before, but I was of course familiar with the Willie Wonka movies and the Matilda movie. My wife recommended I listen to "Boy" as an introduction to Dahl's writing, and it was an excellent choice! Dan Stevens is excellent in his narration. He captures Dahl's wry wit and off-centered view of the world around him to the point where you can imagine Dahl himself reading this book to you. I am about an hour in, and I already am looking for more of Dahl's books on Audible. Dan Stevens goes on my list of recommended readers too. This book is highly recommended.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful

Delightful recount of childhood, I enjoyed immensely
Dan Stevens is a wonderful narrator. Highly recommended for all ages. Going to download going solo right now.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great! 👍🏻

I loved it! That time he put the Mouse in the candy jar was so funny! But not the beating part.. 🙁 Oh how I wish I lived in Norway! ☺️ I give it a 100! 👍🏻

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

So happy and sad at the same time .what a life changing story.I loved every word(almost every).

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

School days remembered

An excellent narrator, Dan Stevens brings the story to life. I felt every whiplash which I've also experienced.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The whipping, the 1900 were rough!

The chapter Fagging and Games and Photography were switched in the audio but besides that it was good

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Boy

It was great a awesome story fun person too. I love the noises in the background and yeah. 

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