Category: Media

Sections: Information | Reviews | Fun Stuff | Covers | Czech, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, and Russian Covers

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Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

• First editions:
  • Reynal & Hitchcock, 1945-1946, USA.
    • To identify: Used a single statement and published with a dust jacket priced at $2.50. Note: There was an interrupted print run in December of 1945; see Richard’s site for more details.
  • Hamish Hamilton, 1946, UK.
    • To identify: Used a standard single statement (‘First published’ followed by the date, no later dates or printing statements) and published with a dust jacket priced at 7s/6p.

• Contains:
  • “A Piece of Cake”
  • “An African Story”
  • “Beware of the Dog”
  • “Death of an Old Old Man”
  • “Katina”
  • “Madame Rosette”
  • “Only This”
  • “Someone Like You”
  • “They Shall Not Grow Old”
  • “Yesterday was Beautiful”
• Related books:
  • Roald Dahl Collection
  • Selected Works of Roald Dahl
  • The Complete Tales of the Unexpected and Other Stories

• Buy this book:
  

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Reviews

• “…to Whom So Much Was Owed” by Michael Straight published in March 9, 1946 issue of The Saturday Review – USA (read online) 
• “Ten short stories on flying” published in June 21, 1947 issue of The Argus – Melbourne, Australia (read online) 
• “Good in action” published in July 15, 1947 issue of The Telegraph – Brisbane, Australia (read online) 
• “Ten Short Stories of Flying” published in July 26, 1947 issue of The Age – Melbourne, Australia (read online) 

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Fun Stuff

• Elsewhere on the web:
  • Plane Writing: Quotes from Early Pilots – Internet site devoted to the biographies of early aviators; some Dahl information 

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Covers

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Czech Covers – Přepínám – deset povídek o letcích a létání

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Dutch Covers – Over en sluiten

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Estonian Covers – Sinu kord. Kümme lugu lenduritest ja lendamisest

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French Covers – À tire-d’aile

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German Covers – steigen aus… maschine brennt… 10 fliegergeschichten

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Russian Covers – Перехожу на прием

Sections: Information | Description | Covers

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Information

• First editions:
  • Dorset Press, 1986, USA.

• Contains:
  • “B***h”
  • “Dip in the Pool”
  • “Edward the Conqueror”
  • “Galloping Foxley”
  • “Genesis and Catastrophe”
  • “Georgy Porgy”
  • “Lamb to the Slaughter”
  • “Man From the South”
  • “Mr. Feasey”
  • “Mr. Hoddy”
  • “Neck”
  • “Nunc Dimittis”
  • “Pig”
  • “Poison”
  • “Royal Jelly”
  • “Rummins”
  • “Skin”
  • “Taste”
  • “The Champion of the World”
  • “The Great Automatic Grammatizator”
  • “The Great Switcheroo”
  • “The Landlady”
  • “The Last Act”
  • “The Ratcatcher”
  • “The Soldier”
  • “The Way Up to Heaven”
  • “The Wish”
  • “William and Mary”

• Buy this book:
  

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Description

Ever since his stories first appeared, people have been telling and retelling each other Roald Dahl’s sometimes shocking and always unpredictable plots. Dahl’s stories are a brilliant and bizarre assortment of terror–tinted gems, polished by a master and set together to mesmerize the fearless and freeze the marrow of the innocent. Bawdy, funny, touching, and downright outrageous, there’s simply no one else like Roald Dahl. This volume collects 28 classic stories selected from Switch B***h, Kiss, Kiss, and Someone Like You – perfect bedtime stories for sleepless nights from one of the world’s best-loved writers for adults and children.

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Covers

Sections: Information | Description | Reviews | Covers | Czech and Russian Covers

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Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

• First editions:
  • Michael Joseph, 1980, UK.
    • To identify: Used a standard single statement (‘First published’ followed by the date with later printings stated underneath) and published in an unpriced dust jacket.
• Also published as:
  • Further Tales of the Unexpected

• Contains:
  • “Genesis and Catastrophe”
  • “Georgy Porgy”
  • “Mr. Botibol”
  • “Poison”
  • “The Butler”
  • “The Hitchhiker”
  • “The Sound Machine”
  • “The Umbrella Man”
  • “Vengeance is Mine, Inc.”

• Buy this book:
  

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Description

Roald Dahl can stand on your head, twist you in knots, tie up your hands and leave you gasping for more. In this, his latest selection of short stories the surprises are as wicked and witty as ever. Taken from Someone Like You, Kiss Kiss and The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar, plus four brand new stories, they lure you into a world as full of unease, coincidence and black humour as you could wish. This title covers stories including: “Poison”; “The Sound Machine”; “Georgy Porgy”; “Genesis and Catastrophe”; “The Hitch-Hiker”; “The Umbrella Man”; “Mr Botibol”; “Vengeance is Mine Inc.”; and, “The Butler”.

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Reviews

• “Not to be taken after dark” by Colin Steele from the September 13, 1980 issue of The Canberra Times – Canberra, Australia (read online)

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Covers

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Czech Covers – Další příběhy nečekaných konců

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Russian Covers – Еще одни невероятные истории

Sections: Information | Description | Reviews | Fun Stuff | Covers

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Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

• First editions:
  • Jonathan Cape, 1999, UK.
    • Illustrated by: Ralph Steadman
    • To identify: Used number line and published with a jacket priced at £14.99.
  • Knopf, 2000, USA.
    • Illustrated by: Ralph Steadman
    • To identify: Used a number line and published with a jacket priced at $22.95.

• Contains:
  • “The Mildenhall Treasure”

• Buy this book:
  

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Description

During World War II, a British plowman discovered a hoard of Roman silver while plowing a field in the Suffolk countryside. Unaware of the treasure’s value, he was cheated out of the fortune that should have been his by the man who hired him. The 34 pieces of silver were discovered after the war by the authorities and taken to the British Museum, where they reside today. Master storyteller Roald Dahl relates the unforgettable and true tale of the greatest treasure ever found in the British Isles.

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Reviews

• “Valley of the Dahls” by Brian Murray (The Weekly Standard)

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Fun Stuff

• Elsewhere on the web:
  • The Mildenhall Treasure Project at the British Museum 

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Covers

Sections: Information | Covers

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Information

• First editions:
  • Penguin, 1995, USA.

• Contains:
  • “A Piece of Cake”
  • “Lamb to the Slaughter”
  • “Parson’s Pleasure”
  • “The Bookseller”
  • “The Butler”

• Buy this book:
  

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Covers

Sections: Information | Reviews | Covers | Castilian, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Slovenian Covers

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Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

• First editions:
  • Knopf, 1960, USA.
    • To identify: Used a standard practice ‘First Edition’ statement and published with a jacket priced at $3.95.
  • Michael Joseph, 1960, UK.
    • To identify: Used standard practice single statement (‘Published in Great Britain’ followed by the date, no later dates or printing statements) and published with a jacket priced at 15s net.

• Contains:
  • “Edward the Conqueror”
  • “Genesis and Catastrophe”
  • “Georgy Porgy”
  • “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”
  • “Parson’s Pleasure”
  • “Pig”
  • “Royal Jelly”
  • “The Champion of the World”
  • “The Landlady”
  • “The Way Up to Heaven”
  • “William and Mary”
• Related books:
  • Roald Dahl Collection
  • Selected Works of Roald Dahl
  • The Complete Tales of the Unexpected and Other Stories
• Audio Books:
  • Kiss Kiss read by Edward Petherbridge
  • Kiss Kiss read by Tamsin Greig, Juliet Stevenson, Adrian Scarborough, Stephanie Beacham, Derek Jacobi, Stephen Mangan

• Buy this book:
  

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Reviews

• “Small Handful of the Superb” by Granville Hicks (The Saturday Review)

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Covers

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Castilian Covers

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Dutch Covers

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Estonian Covers – Kiisu-kiisu

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Finnish Covers – Rakkaani, kyyhkyläiseni

Note: this book contains eight stories from Kiss Kiss and seven stories from Someone Like You.

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French Covers – Kiss Kiss

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German Covers – Küßchen Küßchen!

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Portuguese Covers – Beijo

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Russian Covers

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Slovenian Covers – Poljubček

Sections: Information | Description | Covers

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Information

• First editions:
  • Viking, 1996.
• Also published as:
  • The Umbrella Man and Other Stories (in the US)

• Contains:
  • “Katina”
  • “Man From the South”
  • “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”
  • “Neck”
  • “Parson’s Pleasure”
  • “Royal Jelly”
  • “Taste”
  • “The Butler”
  • “The Great Automatic Grammatizator”
  • “The Landlady”
  • “The Umbrella Man”
  • “The Way Up to Heaven”
  • “Vengeance is Mine, Inc.”

• Buy this book:
  

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Description

This new selection of Roald Dahl’s short stories has been specially chosen as an introduction for teenagers into the adult writing of one of the world’s greatest storytellers. Subtle and bizarre, ironic and amusing, macabre and often grotesque, in every sense these tales provide a superb first step into the unexpected world of Roald Dahl.

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Covers

Sections: Information | Description

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Information

• First editions:
  • Chivers, 1981.
• Also published as:
  • More Tales of the Unexpected (original title)

• Contains:
  • “Genesis and Catastrophe”
  • “Georgy Porgy”
  • “Mr. Botibol”
  • “Poison”
  • “The Butler”
  • “The Hitchhiker”
  • “The Sound Machine”
  • “The Umbrella Man”
  • “Vengeance is Mine, Inc.”

• Buy this book:
  

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Description

Roald Dahl can stand on your head, twist you in knots, tie up your hands and leave you gasping for more. In this, his latest selection of short stories the surprises are as wicked and witty as ever. Taken from Someone Like You, Kiss Kiss and The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar, plus four brand new stories, they lure you into a world as full of unease, coincidence and black humour as you could wish. This title covers stories including: “Poison”; “The Sound Machine”; “Georgy Porgy”; “Genesis and Catastrophe”; “The Hitch-Hiker”; “The Umbrella Man”; “Mr Botibol”; “Vengeance is Mine Inc.”; and, “The Butler”.

Sections: Information | Description | Covers

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Information

• First editions:
  • Penguin Books, 1986, Great Britain.

• Contains:
  • “Dip in the Pool”
  • “Edward the Conqueror”
  • “Galloping Foxley”
  • “Genesis and Catastrophe”
  • “Georgy Porgy”
  • “Lamb to the Slaughter”
  • “Man From the South”
  • “Mr. Botibol”
  • “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”
  • “My Lady Love, My Dove”
  • “Neck”
  • “Nunc Dimittis”
  • “Parson’s Pleasure”
  • “Poison”
  • “Royal Jelly”
  • “Skin”
  • “Taste”
  • “The Butler”
  • “The Hitchhiker”
  • “The Landlady”
  • “The Sound Machine”
  • “The Umbrella Man”
  • “The Way Up to Heaven”
  • “Vengeance is Mine, Inc.”
  • “William and Mary”

• Buy this book:
  

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Description

Take a pinch of unease. Stir it into a large dollop of the macabre, add a generous helping of dark and stylish wit, garnish with the bizarre and what do you have? Roald Dahl at his brilliant, hypnotizing best, cooking up some of the most unusual stories ever told. Here in one volume are Tales of the Unexpected and More Tales of the Unexpected, making this a superb compendium of vengeance, surprise and dark delight.

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Covers

Sections: Information | Reviews | Covers | Dutch, Indian, Italian, Hungarian, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, and Ukrainian Covers

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Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

• First editions:
  • Michael Joseph, 1991, UK.
  • To identify: Standard practice statement (‘Published in Great Britain’ followed by the date, no later dates or printing statements) above listing of previous publication copyright credits with jacket priced at £15.99

• Contains:
  • “A Piece of Cake”
  • “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life”
  • “An African Story”
  • “B***h”
  • “Beware of the Dog”
  • “Death of an Old Old Man”
  • “Dip in the Pool”
  • “Edward the Conqueror”
  • “Galloping Foxley”
  • “Genesis and Catastrophe”
  • “Georgy Porgy”
  • “Katina”
  • “Lamb to the Slaughter”
  • “Madame Rosette”
  • “Man From the South”
  • “Mr. Botibol”
  • “Mr. Feasey”
  • “Mr. Hoddy”
  • “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”
  • “My Lady Love, My Dove”
  • “Neck”
  • “Nunc Dimittis”
  • “Only This”
  • “Parson’s Pleasure”
  • “Pig”
  • “Poison”
  • “Royal Jelly”
  • “Rummins”
  • “Skin”
  • “Someone Like You”
  • “Taste”
  • “The Bookseller”
  • “The Butler”
  • “The Champion of the World”
  • “The Great Automatic Grammatizator”
  • “The Great Switcheroo”
  • “The Hitchhiker”
  • “The Landlady”
  • “The Last Act”
  • “The Ratcatcher”
  • “The Soldier”
  • “The Sound Machine”
  • “The Surgeon”
  • “The Umbrella Man”
  • “The Visitor”
  • “The Way Up to Heaven”
  • “The Wish”
  • “They Shall Not Grow Old”
  • “Vengeance is Mine, Inc.”
  • “William and Mary”
  • “Yesterday was Beautiful”

• Buy this book:
  

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Reviews

• “The Art of Vengeance” by Joyce Carol Oates (The New York Review of Books)
• “Getting Even” by Stephen Amidon (The Nation)
• “Mister Macabre” by Edwin M. Yoder (The Weekly Standard)

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Covers

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Dutch Covers – Alle verhalen

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Hungarian Covers – Összes meghökkentő meséje

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Indian Covers

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Italian Covers – Tutti i racconti

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Russian Covers – Дорога в рай

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Slovenian Covers – Zbrane kratke zgodbe

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Spanish Covers – Cuentos completos

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Ukrainian Covers – КОНЯКА ФОКСЛІ та інші дорослі оповідання