George’s Marvellous Medicine is a children’s novel written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. First published by Jonathan Cape in 1981, it features George Kranky, an eight-year-old boy who concocts his own miracle elixir to replace his tyrannical grandmother’s regular prescription medicine.
Being a medical expert was one of what Dahl called his “dreams of glory”: he had enormous respect for doctors and particularly those who pioneered new treatments. He dedicated the book to “doctors everywhere”. In 2003, it was listed at number 134 on the BBC’s The Big Read poll.
George Kranky’s grandma is a grouch. She’s always mean to George (and not much nicer to his parents either).
One day, when George is put in charge of giving Grandma her medicine, he wonders if he can come up with his own remedy to try and help Grandma become less of a grump.
Using some rather unusual ingredients, George creates his magic medicine*. But will it stop his grandma from being so horrible . . . or will it shoot sparks out of the top of her head?!
- WARNING: Do NOT try to make George’s Marvellous Medicine yourselves at home. It is likely to be extremely dangerous.
