Roald Dahl: The Spy Behind the Storyteller

Roald Dahl: The Spy Behind the Storyteller

From SpyCast by SpyCast

March 3, 2026 · 39 min · Episode 722

About this episode

This episode explores Roald Dahl's secret life as a spy for MI6 during World War II.

Children grew up reading Roald Dahl’s tales of giant peaches and chocolate factories. Adults know about the controversy surrounding the antisemitic statements he made in his later years. But before becoming one of the most successful children’s authors of all time, Dahl worked for MI6, seducing Washington socialites and cozying up to the First Family. He did this to gather intelligence and exert influence for Winston Churchill in the early days of World War II. Writer Aaron Tracy delves into Dahl’s complicated life in his new podcast, The Secret World of Roald Dahl, and sat down with Sasha to discuss Dahl’s forays into espionage. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit: https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis…

People in this episode

Host: Sasha

Guest: Aaron Tracy

Topics covered

  • Roald Dahl
  • espionage
  • World War II
  • MI6
  • children's literature
  • intelligence

Keywords

  • Roald Dahl
  • espionage
  • MI6
  • World War II
  • children's author
  • intelligence

Sponsors

N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MI6, Winston Churchill, HUMINT, International Spy Museum

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