Dahl museum prepares to open in Britain

GREAT MISSENDEN, England, June 10 (UPI) -- A museum dedicated to the life and work of British writer Roald Dahl was preparing Friday to open in the writer's home village of Great Missenden.

The museum, scheduled to open officially Saturday, houses early manuscripts, family letters, and a series of galleries telling the story of his life, the BBC reported.

Dahl, who died in 1990, had requested his manuscripts, business and personal correspondence, and his "Ideas Book" stay together. The materials will be available for viewing in the galleries and online.

"He kept most of the items, which form his archive, in a hut in the garden," said museum director Sue Davies.

"It was a very private space, but when he died, the family sorted everything out."

Museum archivist Liz Whittingham said Dahl had been a meticulous writer.

"You can see from the archive that we start off with the germ of an idea in the 'Ideas Book,' and then he works through many drafts for his books, working and reworking until he gets it right."