The Way Up to Heaven and Other Stories

by Roald Dahl

Book

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

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

[Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

*read for school*

[Maunini · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit odd and awkward to read but my mom gave it to me (she was already reading it for her English tests in school in the 80ies)

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

unbelievable that such stories are standing only by the grace of the last sentence

[My Nhâm · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Mrs Foster is prisoned in the gloomy house and rarely goes out to visit her grand daughter in Paris. One day, she stands up and fights for herself. She does not want to live with her husband any longer, she hates being prisoned. While conspiring her plan, she stays still and calm as nothing has happened to her poor husband.

[Thomas Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I focussed on ‘The Way up to Heaven’ in particular from this collection, which has since turned out to be one of my favourite Dahl stories. In the tale, a woman with a pathological fear of being late is traumatised by her husband (he is deliberately late for things), eventually culminating in a subtle but shockingly brilliant ending. Cannot recommend enough.

[Mica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read The Way up to Heaven, Poison, The Lamb and the Slaughter and more for school. I love how Dahl gives great closures to the stories.

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Well, this Roald Dahl’s story amused me a little. It tells about the elderly married couple named Foster’s (The Fosters, because there’s no need in using possessive case, it’s the name of the family). Mrs Foster had the eternal fear of being late and this fact irritated her husband, whose name was Eugene.
One day Mrs Foster was going to fly to Paris by plane. She wanted to visit her daughter’s family and meet her grandchildren, who she had seen in the photos before.
Long before departure Mrs. foster stood (was standing) on her doorstep in her coat and boots and waited (waiting) for her husband. After a while, Eugene he warned (Eugene warned/he warned) her it was time to go. He is (was) always abusing his wife and collecting his things (packing up his things in the meaning of «собирал свои вещи») very slowly. Mrs Foster was always nervous in such moments but she never contradicted Eugene because she was always (repetition) a loyal and loving wife.
As I have read in the story (as I understood from the story) the Foster’s family (the Fosters) lived in New York with their six surveys. Their daughter got (had got, the sequence of tenses) married some years ago and lived in Paris with her husband and little pretty (pretty little, because emotionally coloured adjectives usually go first) children.
One day Mrs Foster decided to visit her daughter and meet her children but Eugene didn’t like such travel (such a travel/that idea/such an idea) and so decided to stay at home alone. At a quarter to ten Mrs. foster decided (thought/realised in the meaning of “решила”) that she was catastrophically late. She began to hurry the servants, who gathered (were packing up) her things.
Tears were welling up in her eyes and that made her even more nervous, which (and it) was reflected in her gestures. When she asked the servants the hour (asked her servants what time it was), she seemed to calm down (to get calmed/to be calmed) but it wasn’t really true. Then she started to tell her servant about her grandchildren and it made her digress (try to choose another word or construction for «отвлекаться (от чего-то плохого, от плохих мыслей)», because “to digress” means «отвлекаться (от темы разговора, от дел)»).
Mrs. Foster was telling about her grandchildren very enthusiastically but suddenly her husband came and announced that it was time to go.
They went out (left the house; “to go out” means «выходить в свет, бывать в обществе»; OR went out of the house) and Mr. Foster glanced at the sky . After it he concluded that the flight might be canceled (cancelled) but he quickly noticed (noticed quickly) that his words irritated his spouse and he changed the topic of the conversation in a quick manner. They chatted on abstract topics so long.
Their car slowly moved down the street (moved down the street slowly) but Mrs Foster pestered her husband relentlessly. He tried to maintain indifference and only few people could notice some changes in his mood. Now he just stared at the corner of his wife’s eye, where a small muscle trembled (it’s better to use the Past Continious).
Suddenly the driver slowed down because they arrived at the airport and Mrs Foster found out that the flight delayed (was being delayed). Mr. Foster offered to his wife (offered his wife) to wait for her but she refused and they said goodbye to each other.
Mrs. Foster spent a lot of time on the bench near the airport. She wanted to stay there but she was very exhausted and so she called home. Her husband answered her but (answered but in the meaning of «ответил, но»/answered that in the meaning of «ответил, что») he didn’t want to take her home. She had to get home herself.
When Eugene heard that his wife came, he went out (+of) his study room. He asked his wife about her health and they went into different rooms.
Next day Mrs Foster got up early and she was ready to go at nine o’clock and soon after that her husband appeared. He asked her some questions and Mrs. Foster went out. Some minutes later her husband went out but Mrs. Foster noticed that he found out something in the pocket of his coat. It turned out that Eugene was looking for a gift for my (their) daughter, which he had forgotten in the house. He decided to return for a forgotten thing, but this (that, because we use the past tense) is even more (it’s better to put it in the end of the sentence) disturbed his wife.
Suddenly Mrs. Foster noticed a forgotten gift between the seats of the car but she had no opportunity to connect with her husband. She went out (+of) the car and heard a noise behind the door. She diligently tried to hear the noise behind the door but when she heard noting , she asked the driver to take her to the airport. .She hurried to the driver and still had a plane (well, what do you mean?..).
She saw her grandchildren but six weeks passed very quickly and it was time to go home.
When she arrived to New York, she noticed that nobody met her but when she came home, she was surprised more. The house was dirty and a lot of mail was lying (there’s no need in continious) on the floor.
The woman was scared, but decided to check out the version that she had. Some minutes later she returned. She was quite and phoned the lifter because her husband stuck (had stuck, don’t use Past Simple+Past Simple, because the actions aren’t simultaneous) in the elevator.
Well, I wouldn’t recommend this Roalh Dahl’s story for sensitive people. But young readers would be impressed by this story because it’s full of actions, feelings and it would keep the tension.”

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Way Up to Heaven

La ansiedad aumenta con cada párrafo.
Tomas claro partido por uno de los protagonistas.
Una llave supone el turning point de la narración.
Un final deliciosamente perverso.
Satisfacción a la enésima potencia 😈

[Ant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this story, mostly in a Shirley Jackson 'The Lottery' way.....

[Aya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a cute little story.

[mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

el feminismo:

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read “A Way to Heaven” but found it delightful

[Álfur Blokki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bearing the brunt of your marriage’s boring routine? Don’t know how to break free?
Just give your husband a lift!

A thrilling “The way up to heaven” is a kind of the story that will definitely keep your nerves sustained. The very name of the author - Roald Dahl, who really proved to be mercilessly shrewd once again – makes you read the story ready to face another sheep, resurrected by sin to become a wolf.
As you open the book, an image of a weirdly obsessed woman is drawn for you – her name is Mrs. Foster, she has her “pathological” fear of being late and she’s married a man, who seems to be irritated by her little insanity enough to practice tortures. Oh, what a cruel husband! Indeed, who does not have a bee in his bonnet? Definitely, not Mr. Foster, a seventy-year-old respectable gentleman, who left his successful enterprises to live out his days in peaceful wealth.
Actually, the whole family leaves a gloomy impression, though the picture of their life seems to be more than desirable. But the 6-storeyed house full of servants just makes the family look more dull and cold. This all sounds like a typical story of two spouses whose passion is long gone and whose peculiarities has turned into annoying habits in their own eyes.
The story tells us about rather a common day of Mr. Foster, but extremely long-awaited one for his wife. She’s ready to go to her beloved daughter - and what’s really important – to her grandchildren. We all know how powerful the inclination of the aged to cherish and worship blood likeness is. It might be a sort of comfort that makes your ending life significant as you see your blood pulsing in the veins of chubby babies. And that’s when Mr. Foster breaks in to play with the foolishness of his old lady over again, and be sure he’s got some funny ideas to keep his wife away from her dearest daughter in Paris.
What’s up to happen? Will this turn into another story of a poor abandoned wife, imprisoned by her husband, or will poor Mrs. Foster bite back for innocent mischief of her husband? No matter what the answer is – remember it’s up to you to decide whether even one of these two old peers deserves your grace.

[Veronika Omelchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story was simply about “happy” marriage, wife’s suffering, price and sense of the marriage at all.From the very beginning you can see how author reproduces Mrs. Foster’s feelings.She found the courage to leave an unhappy marriage .I saw her as unhappy, poor woman. She is my favorite character, of course. I think it’s obvious that she is not content with her life. Well,I feel real to her mind, feeling, cause the issue mentioned in the story- the problem of all modern marriage. Our men try to degrade our wishes, our hobbies. They degrade us, as a human. Mrs. Foster- personification for all women, who suffers in particular situations. She trapped in a unhappy marriage with a man she don’t love – or with a man she believe doesn’t love her. She felt helpless, scared, and alone.
The end-scene was trilling for me. Finally it happens. She felt a sense of relief. There are many unhappy marriages in “hard times” and none of them are resolved happily by the end.

In “The Way Up To Heaven” Dahl is clearly making a statement about exhausting downcasted marriages, with broken wife’s dreams, hopes and powerful husband. In the end, Mrs. Foster “has won the war”-husband is gone. She is free now. What you have to do you inside to be free? What will she do next? Anything she wants. She probably flight to her lovely daughter, visited many interesting places, she never had been, lived the full life. With luck, time can heal.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 Stars/67%

I had to read this for school.
The first half of the book was pretty meh to me.
Due to the title I already knew what was going to happen, but not in the way it did. It was a really interesting and macabre story.
The writing style is beautiful though.
I'd suggest going into it, knowing absolutely nothing to get the full effect.
I gave it 3.5 stars because it was kinda predictable.

[C.Elegans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of four short stories was a neat surprise to me. All the funny stories primarily deal with their two or three characters who experience odd encounters or solve some daily routine problems. All of them end with a nasty or rather shocking twist for one of those characters. The 15-20 pages of each story are quickly and easily read and every now and then the text is intermitted by useful illustration.

[Elidanora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took it thinking it was light but I found it dark though very entertaining stories, some of them a little scary.

[Ung Angel]

sounds good

[Abhishek]

Read the last paragraph and you would know why people say - Never trust the Meek !!
.
Astonishingly written !!

[Marine · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai adoré cette nouvelle de Roald Dahl. C'est une histoire qui est plutôt glauque et dont la fin m'a surprise. C'est la première fois que j'apprécie autant une nouvelle.

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read the story 'The way up to heaven'. It was amazing.I suspected something like the ending, but not this. It was brilliant, truly a masterpiece.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay