The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More

by Roald Dahl

Genres: Short Stories

Paperback

About the author

Roald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.

Reviews

[Miles Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story’s great bit about Rosavault

[Clarence Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

ReedIII Quick Review: Beautiful collection of fun quirky short stories and a short biography by a talented author. Dahl has lots of well known award winning works in his extensive library of books.

[Sumitra Quiring · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have grown up on Roald Dahl and absolutely love his children’s stories. Reading this set of short stories for adults was entertaining. The first 4 stories were captivating and well written. When I got to the titular story - the wonderful story of Henry sugar I immediately lost interest. The story was drawn out, with far too many details, the main character had no charm or likeability. Sad to say I put the book down after this. The following stories were similar, and the story based on his childhood was downright depressing. I love Roald Dahl but some of these stories were not his finest work.

[Abigail Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot get enough of Roald Dahl right now - what a wonderful writer!!
The story of Henry Sugar was amazing, truly so enthralling and I kept wondering and waiting for something terrible to happen but it all worked out so well and was such a great read.

Then for the last two stories to be autobiographical and all about the author himself was a real treat - I forgot just how interesting a background he has and reading his first ever short story was such a treat.

Many of these were completely new to me as well which was so fun!

[Sam McLendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

cuuuuteee

[Mauricio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great selection to get to know the author

[John J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several of the stories were quite entertaining

[skread · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am going to watch the henry sugar film on Netflix now.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This was SO GOOD! This book was like a movie, you could just watch this book, all of the stories in it. Also, got to learn a little more about Dahl as I went, this was such a GREAT experience!
Loved it, no wonder this is one of his top books.

And reading Henry Sugar, I found out that they changed so many things, mostly omitting scenes from the book and changing Imhrat (a young 30 yr old man with black matting of hair coming out of his ear) to Imdad (an old man with white matting of hair coming out of his) and so much more.
The movie was good, but I have to say the book, the source material was just WAYYY better and way too good playing out from the paper rather than the screen!

Also, 'The Swan' was disturbing, boiled my blood so much, quite ghastly those boys Raymond and Ernie!

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Roald Dahl and this collection is just a beautiful mix of quirky stories plus a biography. I listened to this as read by Andrew Tate. He was just a superb narrator. I especially loved The Hitchhiker. I didn't guess the twist at all.