Widow Opens Up About 'Ratty' Dahl

Tears reach Felicity Dahl's eyes as she walks to the work hut of her famous ex-husband, Roald. She's not alone, either: Director Tim Burton burst out crying when he saw it. "People have strong reactions to this house," said the widow of the acerbic scribe who wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. "It's hell" living without him, she tells the Observer, in a rare interview to promote this week’s inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize.

Felicity met Dahl when he was married to US actress Patricia Neal, then took over as lover and wife for 7 years. In a wide-ranging talk, she concedes that Roald had been a womanizing RAF spy, a temperamental parent, and never really grew up. But his love for childlike pleasures made life special, she sighs: "You know, those are the things in life that matter."

(More Roald Dahl stories.)