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Roald Dahl The Complete Short Stories Collection Volume one and Volume two.
Roald Dahl The Complete Short Stories Collection Volume one and Volume two. (The complete short stories volume one 1944- 1953 and The Complete short stories volume 1954-1988)
1043 pages, Paperback
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,636 books27.5k followersRoald Dahl (1916–1990) was a British novelist, short story writer, poet and screenwriter, best known for his imaginative children's books, which combine fantastical adventures, dark humour and wonderfully eccentric characters. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led an eventful life marked by adventure, personal tragedy and remarkable literary success. His distinctive storytelling style and vivid imagination have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors of the twentieth century.
Before establishing himself as a writer, Dahl experienced an extraordinary range of adventures. During the Second World War, he served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF). In 1940, he suffered a serious crash in the Libyan desert and sustained injuries that temporarily left him unable to fly. After recovering, he continued his military service, eventually working in Washington, D.C., where he began writing stories inspired in part by his wartime experiences. These early works were written primarily for adult audiences.
Dahl's children's books are characterised by their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, unexpected twists and a strong sense of justice. His stories frequently place clever, resourceful children in opposition to cruel, selfish or foolish adults, celebrating courage, kindness and independent thinking. Among his best-known works are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Witches. Blending fantasy, humour and occasional darkness, these stories have captivated generations of young readers.
Dahl was equally successful as a writer of adult fiction. His short stories are particularly renowned for their macabre humour, unexpected endings and often sinister twists. Many were originally published in magazines, including The New Yorker, and later collected in bestselling volumes such as Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss.
He also worked as a screenwriter, adapting literary works for the cinema and writing original screenplays. Among his credits are the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the screenplay for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, based on the novel by Ian Fleming.
Despite his considerable literary achievements, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial personality, known for his outspoken opinions and difficult temperament. Nevertheless, his books have continued to enjoy enormous popularity, inspiring numerous film, television and stage adaptations.
Roald Dahl died in 1990, but his literary legacy remains remarkably strong. His stories continue to be read by millions of children and adults around the world, celebrated for their originality, irreverence, humour and imaginative power. His work remains a testament to the enduring magic of storytelling and the importance of looking at the world with curiosity and a little mischief.
Before establishing himself as a writer, Dahl experienced an extraordinary range of adventures. During the Second World War, he served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF). In 1940, he suffered a serious crash in the Libyan desert and sustained injuries that temporarily left him unable to fly. After recovering, he continued his military service, eventually working in Washington, D.C., where he began writing stories inspired in part by his wartime experiences. These early works were written primarily for adult audiences.
Dahl's children's books are characterised by their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, unexpected twists and a strong sense of justice. His stories frequently place clever, resourceful children in opposition to cruel, selfish or foolish adults, celebrating courage, kindness and independent thinking. Among his best-known works are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Witches. Blending fantasy, humour and occasional darkness, these stories have captivated generations of young readers.
Dahl was equally successful as a writer of adult fiction. His short stories are particularly renowned for their macabre humour, unexpected endings and often sinister twists. Many were originally published in magazines, including The New Yorker, and later collected in bestselling volumes such as Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss.
He also worked as a screenwriter, adapting literary works for the cinema and writing original screenplays. Among his credits are the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the screenplay for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, based on the novel by Ian Fleming.
Despite his considerable literary achievements, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial personality, known for his outspoken opinions and difficult temperament. Nevertheless, his books have continued to enjoy enormous popularity, inspiring numerous film, television and stage adaptations.
Roald Dahl died in 1990, but his literary legacy remains remarkably strong. His stories continue to be read by millions of children and adults around the world, celebrated for their originality, irreverence, humour and imaginative power. His work remains a testament to the enduring magic of storytelling and the importance of looking at the world with curiosity and a little mischief.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 4, 2023
Brilliant. Maybe the finest writer of the short story. Many are properly 'adult', so perhaps don't file them alongside your kids' collection. (Probably also the greatest ever children's writer - therefore quite the genius.)
June 7, 2020
I enjoyed the short stories immensely
July 11, 2023
Overall the stories are as well written as you can expect from Roald Dahl (read: mostly very good). Great if you enjoy witty and deeply offputting tales of middle-aged, middle-class, mid-century English people being absolutely unhinged. Several of the stories rely on the assumption that the reader has a base knowledge of things like bets, gambling and card games. Being a 15-year-old who's never bet on stakes higher than a school lunch, I think my enjoyment of some of the stories was dampened by the mental effort of trying to remember what my great-grandfather tried to teach me about Bridge when I was seven.
TLDR; witty and thrilling stories about people making questionable life decisions. Highly recommend if you liked Roald Dahl as a kid, but I recommend brushing up on sports betting procedures before you pick it up.
TLDR; witty and thrilling stories about people making questionable life decisions. Highly recommend if you liked Roald Dahl as a kid, but I recommend brushing up on sports betting procedures before you pick it up.
March 2, 2026
Yeah okay his life was kind of questionable and he had some questionable beliefs on race and how women and strokes should be treated but he also wound up not only developing a really pioneering medical device for babies (The Wade-Dahl shunt) but also insisted that it was never sold for profit.
If you want an example of morality being a spectrum, you need only look at Dahl, which is beautifully symmetrical because this is a theme that runs through most of his writing - both for adults and for children. However you feel about him, the man had a mind that was truly one-of-a-kind, and it's unlikely we'll ever see one quite like his. With that in mind, I believe that everyone should read at least some of his stories, and he makes that spectacularly easy when they are quite so good.
If you want an example of morality being a spectrum, you need only look at Dahl, which is beautifully symmetrical because this is a theme that runs through most of his writing - both for adults and for children. However you feel about him, the man had a mind that was truly one-of-a-kind, and it's unlikely we'll ever see one quite like his. With that in mind, I believe that everyone should read at least some of his stories, and he makes that spectacularly easy when they are quite so good.
October 19, 2019
Reread - an excellent collection of grown-up stories that is delightfully subversive and ahead of its time. Dahl is a perennial favourite of mine!
August 25, 2025
exceptional. Roald Dahl has a gift for story telling. He can be very dark which I enjoy. His stories always have a twist.
February 26, 2026
I’m so sad I will never again read a new Roald Dahl short story.
February 1, 2025
I dnf this book at 30 pages. One Star - Do Not Recommend for Children
This "collection" is a mess. The stories don't end, they just stop. It's incredibly frustrating and unsatisfying. Even worse, some of the content is completely inappropriate for children. This should absolutely not be marketed towards kids. Save your time and money. This is a complete waste.
This "collection" is a mess. The stories don't end, they just stop. It's incredibly frustrating and unsatisfying. Even worse, some of the content is completely inappropriate for children. This should absolutely not be marketed towards kids. Save your time and money. This is a complete waste.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews