A charming handwritten letter penned by Roald Dahl to an adoring fan the year before he died saying to never shelter children from the world and revealing his secret to writing bestselling books has gone under the hammer.
The iconic children s author replied to student Christine Wotton in 1989 after she found his address in the back of an old library book while she was at university.
The fascinating letter gives a rare insight into the novelist s opinion of his own books and his determination to get children reading.
In the handwritten note, Dahl - considered one of the world s best storytellers - frankly admits his work had very few messages and was mostly pure fantasy .
The Drinks Business
22 February 2021 By Lucy Shaw
The inaugural Napa Valley Library Wine Auction, which took place online from 11-20 February, has raised US$933,000 in proceeds.
Run by Zachys auction house, the auction attracted over 500 bidders from around the world, including bidders from 41 US states.
“This auction showcased the calibre of ageworthy wines Napa Valley is known for, and demonstrated that collectors around the world believe in the investment value of the Napa Valley name,” said Jeff Zacharia, president of Zachys.
Among the most popular lots to go under the hammer was a 15 magnum vertical of Shafer, which sold for US$42,000; three magnums of Screaming Eagle 2015, which went for US$40,000; and a 10 magnum vertical of Bryant Estate, which also sold for US$40,000.