Paperback review: Roald Dahl - The Complete Short Stories Volume One
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Given their starting point, it is not surprising that about a third of this collection comprises stories written during, or about, the Second World War, and they are undoubtedly the ones that make the greatest impression.
Dahl was never a sentimental writer, but he comes close to it in the opening story, “Katina”, about a little Greek girl whose family have been bombed and who is taken care of by the RAF squadron that finds her. Her fate is signposted the first time she runs out during an air-raid to shake her fists at the German bombers above, but Dahl rarely makes such an obvious gesture again in subsequent stories – nor does he bring you quite so close to tears. By the early 1950s, stories such as “My Lady love, my Dove” are already showing signs of the “surprise” element that made his Tales of the Unexpected so popular.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments