Stranger in a Strange Land
What do Roberto Bolaño, John Irving, and Jules Verne have in common? These authors were diagnosed with dyslexia, and they were able to overcome it. Count Robert Lee too. He happened to be one of Roald Dahl's final creations, and he wrote his story for a good cause.
"The Vicar of Nibbleswicke" was for the London-based Dyslexia Action, where Dahl and Quentin Blake donated their rights. It was published after the author's death in 1990. It would be unfair to compare this piece of work to Dahl's earlier writings. And those who were expecting Dahl's ghastly humor would be disappointed.
"I don't think it had occurred to any of us that we were embarking on a collaboration that would extend over fifteen years and a dozen books. It's a collaboration of which I am proud and of which I have a lot of memories," Blake said.
Blake's illustrations were spot on. The bulbous eyes, for instance, were an indicator of an individual's meanness. And readers won't look at Dahl's nasty characters after a glimpse at their pair of eyes. In the case of "The Vicar of Nibbleswicke", Robert Lee's eyes exuded good will and charisma. But villagers were about to get the shock of their lives.
Can he really cope with this job?
Nibbleswicke was Robert Lee's first important job. He was anxious about the christenings, funerals, and weddings. He dreaded the sermons. (Will the attendees pay attention to him?) The young reverend was diagnosed with dyslexia, but he was able to overcome it. Alas, it would come back unexpectedly.
Revered Lee had back-to-front dyslexia, where he would say his words backward. This created confusion, if not disapproval, among the parishioners. For Dahl's fans, it was only natural. There have been many strange occurrences in Britain, and the weather was one of them. This was the shortest tale penned by Dahl, but it was Blake's illustrations that would delight the readers.
Miss Prewt, for instance, was one of the church's generous donors. Readers would call her heartless after slamming the door on Reverend Lee after dropping by her house to thank her for her contributions. The image of a tall, thin lady with a mouth like a blade of a knife would turn off readers, until they found out the real cause.
Age didn't mellow Dahl. In fact, he penned lots of dark stories for adult readers. It was less outrageous than his children's books, though. And the author had a strong message on people with dyslexia. They may be odd characters, but they can live with the rest of the society. Many of them overcame the impediment and became accomplished citizens. And they know how to bring life to a place. Ask the residents of Nibbleswicke.
