Roald Dahl, 74, Novelist, Writer Of Children's Books

OXFORD, England - Roald Dahl, author of ``Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,'' ``James and the Giant Peach'' and other tales for children, died today, his agent said. He was 74.

Mr. Dahl died at John Radcliffe Hospital, where he was admitted Nov. 12 with an undisclosed infection, his agent Murray Pollinger said.

Mr. Dahl wrote nine books of short stories, three novels, 19 children's books, and numerous screenplays and scripts for television, including ``Tales of the Unexpected.'' Last year, his total paperback sales in Britain topped 2.3 million copies.

``Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' was adapted for film as ``Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.''

Mr. Dahl said his secret was that he entered a conspiracy with children against adults.

``It's the path to their affections,'' he said in an interview earlier this year with The Independent newspaper. ``It may be simplistic, but it is the way. Parents and schoolteachers are the enemy.

``The adult is the enemy of the child because of the awful process of civilizing this thing. . . .''

He had one son and three daughters by his marriage to the actress Patricia Neal. They were divorced in 1983, and he married Felicity Ann Crosland.