What is the name of Roald Dahl’s 1981 children’s novel about a boy who discovers a magical medicine?

Roald Dahl’s 1981 children’s novel about a boy who discovers a magical medicine is George’s Marvellous Medicine.

The story follows George Kranky, a young boy who is unhappy with his cruel, demanding grandmother. While left alone with her, he creates a bizarre mixture from household products and medicines. The concoction produces extraordinary effects, though its results are comic, unpredictable, and unsafe by real-world standards.

The book is one of Dahl’s shorter and more mischievous children’s novels. Its humour comes from exaggeration, fantasy, and George’s attempt to replace his grandmother’s usual medicine with something far more dramatic.

Readers sometimes confuse it with The Magic Finger, another Dahl story involving a child and unusual powers. The two are separate works: George’s Marvellous Medicine centres on an invented potion, while The Magic Finger focuses on a girl’s mysterious ability.