A Review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
About the Book
Written and published way back in 1964 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is known as a children's book but is suitable for adults who like fantasy fiction. I read the book in the 1970's finding it entertaining - a good read. The author was British; the book was first published in the USA in 1964 and in 1967 in the UK.
Its principal characters are the young boy Charlie Bucket and the chocolate maker Willy Wonka - the book was made into two movies, one in 1971, the other in 2005.
Charlie comes from a poor family; his four grandparents, who are bedridden are staying with them. A bit fanciful, yes, but then it is a fantasy genre of writing. Charlie's father loses his job which makes life more difficult for everyone. They live near a chocolate factory, Charlie's grandpa named Joe tells him stories about how the factory had closed down then re-opened years later. It closed because there was controversy about recipes being pinched by other chocolate makers. Poor Charlie is allowed to to have only one chocolate a year on his birthday.
Willy Wonka, the factory owner runs a competition; there are Golden Tickets hidden inside five chocolates that gives the finders of these tickets entry to a tour of the factory. The winner will get a lifelong supply of chocolates and sweets.
Charlie is given some saved-up money to buy two chocolates but he does not find any golden tickets. However, one day he happens to find some money lying on the ground. He buys more chocolate bars and finally finds a golden ticket. Charlie is overjoyed; Grandpa Joe suddenly revives and together they go to the factory with the other entrants.
There they meet the Oompa Loompas who are small people who run the factory; they are shown a whole room of sweets and chocolates and a chocolate river that runs through it. One by one all the children except Charlie get eliminated from the competition, the first one falls into the chocolate river. Thus Charlie is the young hero who wins and inherits the factory from Willy Wonka. He rejoices with his family after he and grandpa Joe get transported home magically by a glass elevator. Imagine that!
I can't imagine myself owning a chocolate factory and eating confectionery freely forever, but for the young boy Charlie it was a dream come true.
Have you read the book reviewed here?
© 2014 David Edward Lynch