American History Hotline: “Did Willy Wonka’s Creator Spy on America?”
iHeartPodcasts | February 18, 2026
Host: Bob Crawford
Guest: Aaron Tracy (creator and host of “The Secret World of Roald Dahl” audio docuseries)
Episode Overview
This episode steps outside the usual listener Q&A format to investigate a listener-submitted mystery: Was beloved children’s author Roald Dahl also a British spy in America? Host Bob Crawford welcomes Aaron Tracy, a Dahl biographer and creator of a new docuseries on Dahl, to unpack the truth behind the “real life James Bond” reputation, secret affairs with American power brokers, and the unexpected influence Dahl had on 20th-century history and children’s literature.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Roald Dahl and His Disdain for “Willy Wonka” the Movie
- [00:00 | 36:01] The episode opens and closes on a striking note—Dahl hated the film adaptation of “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971), despite writing its screenplay. He disapproved of its commercial focus and casting.
“He absolutely hated it. And he wrote it. He wrote the adaptation... The movie was funded by the Quaker Oats Company… it shifted the focus onto Willy Wonka and away from Charlie.”
—Aaron Tracy [00:06, 36:09]
Two Truths and a Lie: Dahl’s Implausible Biography
-
[01:14] Aaron kicks off with a game to illustrate the wildness of Dahl’s life:
- Amateur neuroscientist (“true”)
- Wrote “The French Connection” screenplay (“lie”)
- Long-term affair with a U.S. congresswoman while a British spy (“true”)
-
Dahl did, in fact, invent a medical device (the “Wade-Dahl-Till” valve) used to treat hydrocephalus in children, saving thousands of lives.
“He was an amateur neuroscientist who saved the lives of thousands of kids.”
—Aaron Tracy [03:09] -
He also carried on an affair with Congresswoman Clare Booth Luce as part of his WWII spy work.
From RAF Ace to MI6 Spy
-
[09:57–11:02] Dahl sought adventure through Shell Oil in Africa, then as an RAF pilot (shot down, wounded, grounded). His storytelling and charm caught the eye of British Intelligence, who recruited him for MI6’s “Irregulars” unit working out of Washington, DC.
“If you sort of picture Don Draper and James Bond and Roald Dahl and Noel Coward all hanging out at a Georgetown bar in the 1940s, that was kind of the scene. It was just this incredibly glamorous spy ring.”
—Aaron Tracy [12:45] -
Their tasks included high-level seduction and influence operations. Dahl used relationships (even affairs) with influential American women, like Clare Booth Luce, to sway elite opinion and American media coverage in favor of Britain’s cause.
Dahl’s Popularity & Enduring Literary Influence
-
[08:34] Dahl sold more than 300 million books, dwarfing even literary giants. His works remain widely assigned in schools, long after publication.
“They dwarf all other authors… If you add up all of their books sold, they equal one quarter of the number of books that Dahl sold.”
—Aaron Tracy [08:34] -
Dahl’s delayed literary fame meant most people know him as an elderly author, but in his youth he was “incredibly handsome…6 foot 6… a great storyteller… and that’s what helped him succeed in his spy work.” [09:57]
The Anti-Semitism Question—Reconciling the Man and His Work
-
[16:07] Dahl made well-documented anti-Semitic remarks in interviews. Tracy (himself Jewish, raising Jewish kids) grapples with whether it’s ethical to enjoy or share Dahl’s books given this:
“Privately Dahl was unquestionably anti Semitic. He… said in an interview in 1990, ‘I’ve become anti Semitic.’ … He said to an interviewer in 1983… ‘Even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.’”
—Aaron Tracy [16:52] -
Tracy convened other writers and philosophers in his own podcast to debate if it’s okay to continue reading Dahl, noting each person’s answer is different.
The Origin of Dahl’s Writing Career
-
[25:19] A chance lunch with then-famous writer C.S. Forester kickstarted Dahl’s writing career. Dahl was meant to supply notes, but wrote a full adventure story instead:
“I was expecting you to send me notes. Instead you sent me a completed story. Did you know you were a writer?”
—C.S. Forester, relayed by Aaron Tracy [25:19] -
Early works focused on adult adventure and war stories, not children’s literature.
Transition to Children’s Books and Personal Tragedy
-
[27:29, 33:17] Dahl’s move to children’s stories was driven by personal tragedy; his son’s accident, his daughter’s death, and his wife’s illness drew him into family life and storytelling for his children.
“He had to become the primary caregiver... so coming up with stories to read them at night… became very important to him.”
—Aaron Tracy [33:17]
Early Works and Breakthrough
-
[32:43] “James and the Giant Peach” (1961) was a flop at first, but Dahl’s agent urged him on. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (1964) was the breakthrough, followed by a string of classics: Matilda, The BFG, The Witches.
“James and the Giant Peach came out first and nobody bought it… then Dahl… went on to write Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and that became just an instant sensation.”—Aaron Tracy [32:43, 35:07]
On the Darkness and Nastiness in Dahl’s Books
-
[37:43] Dahl’s hallmark: mean adults mistreating children. Tracy says this is what makes his work attractive—kids crave honest depictions of the world’s harshness.
“He looked around at the children’s literature landscape, and it was a lot of very saccharine, sugary, you know, niceties. And he knew that kids want to be told the truth... He gave them some of that nastiness that made it feel like they were being told the truth finally.”
—Aaron Tracy [37:58]
Literary Mentors as “Wonkas” in Dahl’s Life
- [39:14] Dahl’s real-life mentors—William Stephenson (spymaster) and Charles Marsh (news magnate)—played “Willy Wonka” roles in his life, opening doors and guiding him.
Wrestling with the Legacy
-
[41:51–44:44] Tracy is open about being torn between Dahl’s personal failings and his genius and impact.
“I really do feel a lot of sympathy for him… I think there was a lot of great stuff in Dahl. … On the other hand, I’m very turned off by all of the bigoted comments. … I think he’s incredibly complicated and I think he’s going to be someone that I continue to think about forever.”
—Aaron Tracy [42:29] -
Tracy wouldn’t withhold Dahl’s books from his children but would want them to understand the full context.
“I just think it’s also important to have context and for my kids to know exactly who he was and what he said and what he believed in…”
—Aaron Tracy [44:44]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Dahl’s shift from adult literature:
“He always thought of himself as an adult writer. … You just kind of want to shake him and give him a hug and say, no one is thinking less of you, buddy. Like, your children’s books are so universally beloved.”
—Aaron Tracy [30:22] -
On biographies and dramatizations:
“There’s less than five movies that have actually had a character named Roald Dahl, which is very surprising to me.”
—Aaron Tracy [29:24] -
Host’s Reflection:
“There’s a Seinfeld episode in this.”
—Bob Crawford [21:27]
Key Timestamps
- 00:00–03:09 – Opening game: Two Truths and a Lie about Dahl’s life
- 03:17–05:26 – Dahl’s invention of a neurosurgical device for his son
- 08:34–09:23 – Dahl’s literary dominance and book sales
- 09:57–12:45 – Dahl’s looks/charisma and transition to spy
- 14:34–16:07 – Dahl’s seduction/influence operations, impact on US media
- 16:07–19:09 – Discussions of Dahl’s antisemitism and the implications
- 25:19–27:22 – How Dahl’s writing career began via C.S. Forester
- 27:29–28:36 – Early adult-focused literature, relationship with the Roosevelts
- 33:13–34:16 – Family tragedies influence Dahl’s move to children’s books
- 35:07–36:01 – “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” as Dahl’s true breakthrough
- 36:01–37:27 – Detailed critique of the “Willy Wonka” (1971) movie adaptations
- 37:43–38:53 – The “nastiness” in Dahl’s books and why it resonates with children
- 41:51–44:44 – Tracy’s personal struggle with enjoying and sharing Dahl’s works
- 43:40–44:44 – Favorite Dahl books, children’s assignment, and context
Episode Highlights
- Behind the chocolate factory: Roald Dahl’s spy work, affairs, and postwar intelligence exploitation offer a real-world parallel to his fantastical literary inventions.
- A difficult legacy: The episode handles the contradiction between Dahl’s creative genius and personal prejudice with maturity, not erasure.
- From failure to fixture: James and the Giant Peach’s flop turned to global phenomenon only after Charlie and the Chocolate Factory rewrote Dahl’s history.
Conclusion
Aaron Tracy’s deep dive into Roald Dahl’s tangled biography reveals a figure more intriguing, complicated, and at times troubling than any of his fictional characters. The conversation offers a model for how to appreciate art critically—without glossing over the flaws of its creator—while tracing the fascinating intersections between global history, personal tragedy, and literary imagination.
Listen to more: Check out “The Secret World of Roald Dahl” podcast for a full exploration.
Submit a question: Email AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com