Roald Dahl

England in the late 1920s, where everyone knows their place. Specifically, Repton School in Derbyshire, established in 1557 and at this time only admitting boys. The sprawling 75-acre school grounds include a science block, armoury, shooting range, chapel, gymnasium and swimming baths. There are also numerous classrooms, as well as dormitories for the younger boys. The oldest boys have their own bedrooms as well as individual studies. There is a prep room for younger boys to work in, and the prefects share a library and a common room. Toilet and washing facilities are shared, and the sports changing rooms are used in the late evenings by prefects who wish to cane younger boys on their buttocks as a punishment. The younger boys must report for this punishment in their pyjamas and dressing gowns. Bullying is rife, especially of younger boys by older ones, and younger boys such as Roald must act as servant to an older boy, who has the power to cane them. Some of the teachers also use the cane regularly, apparently displaying a deep hatred of young boys. All boys are required to participate in the Combined Cadet Force in addition to sporting activities and their academic work.

Roald's father died soon after he was born, leaving his family a significant fortune but also a dying wish that Roald attend an English boarding school, believing them to be the best in the world. Roald has already spent several years at a private boarding preparatory school before coming to Repton, thus he is already familiar with vicious and arbitrary canings from authority figures, and has learned to cope with his intense feelings of homesickness caused by being away from his family.