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Mevrouw Bixby en de mantel van de Kolonel
Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat is a brilliant gem of a short story from Roald Dahl, the master of the sting in the tail.
In Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a wife pawns her lover's parting gift with unexpected consequences . . .
Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat is taken from the short story collection Kiss Kiss, which includes ten other devious and shocking stories, featuring the husband and wife who hit upon a novel way to feed their new baby; the priceless piece of furniture that is the subject of a deceitful bargain; a wronged woman taking revenge on her dead husband, and others.
'Unnerving bedtime stories, subtle, proficient, hair-raising and done to a turn.' (San Francisco Chronicle )
This story is also available as a Penguin digital audio download read by Stephanie Beacham.
Roald Dahl, the brilliant and worldwide acclaimed author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and many more classics for children, also wrote scores of short stories for adults. These delightfully disturbing tales have often been filmed and were most recently the inspiration for the West End play, Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales by Jeremy Dyson. Roald Dahl's stories continue to make readers shiver today.
In Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a wife pawns her lover's parting gift with unexpected consequences . . .
Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat is taken from the short story collection Kiss Kiss, which includes ten other devious and shocking stories, featuring the husband and wife who hit upon a novel way to feed their new baby; the priceless piece of furniture that is the subject of a deceitful bargain; a wronged woman taking revenge on her dead husband, and others.
'Unnerving bedtime stories, subtle, proficient, hair-raising and done to a turn.' (San Francisco Chronicle )
This story is also available as a Penguin digital audio download read by Stephanie Beacham.
Roald Dahl, the brilliant and worldwide acclaimed author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and many more classics for children, also wrote scores of short stories for adults. These delightfully disturbing tales have often been filmed and were most recently the inspiration for the West End play, Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales by Jeremy Dyson. Roald Dahl's stories continue to make readers shiver today.
19 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1977
9 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,475 books26.7k followersRoald 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
January 29, 2021
What a fun short story. I chose to read this many times to my reading group of patients at the hospital where I worked. They seemed to enjoy it, as did I.
November 26, 2015
This story was lovely! And the ending, just hilarious. This story is the perfect example of the boomerang theory.
Moral of the story: What goes around comes around. Be warned adulterers and schemers.
Moral of the story: What goes around comes around. Be warned adulterers and schemers.
November 2, 2023
وای خدا اسکل!:))))
خب چه عجب کریپی نبود.
خب چه عجب کریپی نبود.
March 17, 2021
Delightful short story! Thanks buddy
June 18, 2024
One of Dahl's best.
February 19, 2019
Nice and funny story of a woman that thought she was smarter than the rest. I loved how the ending was and who got fooled in the end. I give this story a 4.5.
April 6, 2022
4.5
I seriously need to read more from Roald Dahl as soon as possible. Both this and Lamb to the Slaughter were truly clever and amazing. While I liked this one a bit more, I really think that Roald Dahl succeeded both times in writing extremely clever plot twists. Now I'm really looking forward to Tales of the Unexpected.
I seriously need to read more from Roald Dahl as soon as possible. Both this and Lamb to the Slaughter were truly clever and amazing. While I liked this one a bit more, I really think that Roald Dahl succeeded both times in writing extremely clever plot twists. Now I'm really looking forward to Tales of the Unexpected.
March 9, 2021
Excellent!
This is a story of a wife who cheats on her husband.
The story is about a wife who receives a gift from a lover outside her marriage and schemes ways to keep the present, in a way, that it does not create any unwarranted thoughts in the mind of her husband.
Great mystery in just few pages.
This is a story of a wife who cheats on her husband.
The story is about a wife who receives a gift from a lover outside her marriage and schemes ways to keep the present, in a way, that it does not create any unwarranted thoughts in the mind of her husband.
Great mystery in just few pages.
April 23, 2024
Meh.
It was good, but not worth reviewing.
For the moment at least.
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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1977] [16p] [Fiction] [Not Recommendable]
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Meh.
Estuvo bien, pero vale la pena reseñarlo.
Al menos por ahora.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1977] [16p] [Ficción] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
It was good, but not worth reviewing.
For the moment at least.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1977] [16p] [Fiction] [Not Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
Meh.
Estuvo bien, pero vale la pena reseñarlo.
Al menos por ahora.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1977] [16p] [Ficción] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
April 30, 2017
Ahahah! The ending was hilarious!
May 6, 2021
This audiobook is awesome. Listening while driving.
April 5, 2024
so freaking good
April 13, 2024
Significantly less inventive than most Dahl work
April 26, 2024
todos cornudos
August 13, 2018
Sly Sly Sly :p
The woman is crazy.
The woman is crazy.
August 25, 2021
Fue interesante. A mi parecer la particular forma de escribir de Roald Dahl es lo que lo hace más atrapante.
Read
October 16, 2015I’d like to introduce to you the story of Roald Dahl, one of the greatest writers, who has his own very special style of writing, - “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s coat”. If you think this story is just some kind of fiction and is not connected with real life I have to say – you are probably mistaken. This story describes how a clever trick of self-assured woman turns out to be the worst failure in her life.
This story is about a hard-working dentist and his duplicitous wife. Mrs. Bixby leaves home once a month to visit her aunt in Baltimore, but in fact she spends time with her lover, the Colonel. That man presents her a beautiful gift – extremely valuable mink coat. But, as you can guess, it’s hard just to take it and wear it with pride as it may cause a husband’s questions. Thinking this is the greatest scam of the century, she tries to safe her face. How it all turns out you will see when you read it to the end. You can be sure – you will not be disappointed because of such an interesting end.
I really loved this story as all the other stories of Dalh which are full of a special atmosphere. All of the characters seemed volume for me – you can’t tell for sure whether you love one character or another. They are colourful as our life – it’s not only black or white. The plot of the story seemed familiar to me, but I still wanted to read it.
In a conclusion, I’d like to recommend this book to all the people who want to have a rest and to laugh, even though this is not a very humorous story. In my opinion it’s a sort of cautionary fable that even the best liars can be taken in.
This story is about a hard-working dentist and his duplicitous wife. Mrs. Bixby leaves home once a month to visit her aunt in Baltimore, but in fact she spends time with her lover, the Colonel. That man presents her a beautiful gift – extremely valuable mink coat. But, as you can guess, it’s hard just to take it and wear it with pride as it may cause a husband’s questions. Thinking this is the greatest scam of the century, she tries to safe her face. How it all turns out you will see when you read it to the end. You can be sure – you will not be disappointed because of such an interesting end.
I really loved this story as all the other stories of Dalh which are full of a special atmosphere. All of the characters seemed volume for me – you can’t tell for sure whether you love one character or another. They are colourful as our life – it’s not only black or white. The plot of the story seemed familiar to me, but I still wanted to read it.
In a conclusion, I’d like to recommend this book to all the people who want to have a rest and to laugh, even though this is not a very humorous story. In my opinion it’s a sort of cautionary fable that even the best liars can be taken in.
July 13, 2017
Steady buildup but very silly ending. Though it does make you say "serves her right!" inside your head, the ending was not as satisfying as the buildup predicted.
November 3, 2025
I’m binge reviewing my best-read short stories of all time.
Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat may be Dahl’s most elegantly constructed betrayal — a love affair, a fur coat, and a husband’s quiet revenge rendered in 2,000 words of pure narrative geometry. Mrs. Bixby, respectable and married, maintains an affair with a wealthy colonel who gifts her a mink coat as a parting token.
She can’t explain its origin, so she schemes — pawning it, taking a ticket, and pretending she’s found the coat by chance. The plan is flawless — until her husband, with deadpan logic, gives the coat to his secretary. Dahl ends it there, without explanation, because explanation would be redundant. The story has already devoured itself.
Postmodernly, the brilliance lies in its structure — it’s a self-consuming text, a perfect irony loop. Every character plays a role; every gesture is a performance. The colonel performs gallantry, Mrs. Bixby performs innocence, and the husband — the quiet architect of reversal — performs ignorance. Each is both victim and author.
The coat itself functions like the sculpture in Chekhov’s A Work of Art — a circulating object that exposes human hypocrisy. Its luxury, its sheen, its sensuality — all carry the weight of transgression. It’s not just fur; it’s guilt incarnate.
Dahl writes with the cruelty of a watchmaker dismantling morality to see what makes it tick. Mrs. Bixby’s downfall isn’t that she’s adulterous; it’s that she believes in control — that she can manipulate narrative, language, and luck. But narrative, in Dahl’s world, always revolts. Meaning rebels against its creator. When the husband coolly gifts the coat to his secretary, he doesn’t need to confront his wife — the story itself has already passed judgement.
What makes the tale postmodern is its refusal of closure. We never see Mrs Bixby’s reaction, because her silence is the ending — the void left after self-deception collapses.
The reader is left hanging in that cruel, brilliant space between moral satisfaction and existential dread. Dahl’s humour, razor-sharp, turns morality into machinery: pull one lever of deceit, and another lever snaps back.
In both stories, Dahl plays the puppeteer of power and irony. He doesn’t just punish greed or infidelity—he reveals how narrative justice operates outside human intention. Parson’s Pleasure ends in the wreckage of miscommunication; Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat ends in the vacuum of poetic symmetry. Together they map the postmodern moral: that truth isn’t divine, it’s narrative — and narrative, like fate, has a dark sense of humour.
Give it a go. One of the greatest short stories of all time!!
Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat may be Dahl’s most elegantly constructed betrayal — a love affair, a fur coat, and a husband’s quiet revenge rendered in 2,000 words of pure narrative geometry. Mrs. Bixby, respectable and married, maintains an affair with a wealthy colonel who gifts her a mink coat as a parting token.
She can’t explain its origin, so she schemes — pawning it, taking a ticket, and pretending she’s found the coat by chance. The plan is flawless — until her husband, with deadpan logic, gives the coat to his secretary. Dahl ends it there, without explanation, because explanation would be redundant. The story has already devoured itself.
Postmodernly, the brilliance lies in its structure — it’s a self-consuming text, a perfect irony loop. Every character plays a role; every gesture is a performance. The colonel performs gallantry, Mrs. Bixby performs innocence, and the husband — the quiet architect of reversal — performs ignorance. Each is both victim and author.
The coat itself functions like the sculpture in Chekhov’s A Work of Art — a circulating object that exposes human hypocrisy. Its luxury, its sheen, its sensuality — all carry the weight of transgression. It’s not just fur; it’s guilt incarnate.
Dahl writes with the cruelty of a watchmaker dismantling morality to see what makes it tick. Mrs. Bixby’s downfall isn’t that she’s adulterous; it’s that she believes in control — that she can manipulate narrative, language, and luck. But narrative, in Dahl’s world, always revolts. Meaning rebels against its creator. When the husband coolly gifts the coat to his secretary, he doesn’t need to confront his wife — the story itself has already passed judgement.
What makes the tale postmodern is its refusal of closure. We never see Mrs Bixby’s reaction, because her silence is the ending — the void left after self-deception collapses.
The reader is left hanging in that cruel, brilliant space between moral satisfaction and existential dread. Dahl’s humour, razor-sharp, turns morality into machinery: pull one lever of deceit, and another lever snaps back.
In both stories, Dahl plays the puppeteer of power and irony. He doesn’t just punish greed or infidelity—he reveals how narrative justice operates outside human intention. Parson’s Pleasure ends in the wreckage of miscommunication; Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat ends in the vacuum of poetic symmetry. Together they map the postmodern moral: that truth isn’t divine, it’s narrative — and narrative, like fate, has a dark sense of humour.
Give it a go. One of the greatest short stories of all time!!
June 18, 2022
Part of The Complete Short Stories: Volume One 1944-1953
* Mrs Bixby And The Colonel's Coat - 2 stars - A woman meets her lover once a month, but after 8 years he calls it off. Basically this was a story about a woman getting screwed over by a pawnbroker. Nice. Not 🙄
* Mrs Bixby And The Colonel's Coat - 2 stars - A woman meets her lover once a month, but after 8 years he calls it off. Basically this was a story about a woman getting screwed over by a pawnbroker. Nice. Not 🙄
July 17, 2023
I really like this book because the plot was really unexpected! The book briefly talks about how Mrs. Bixby deals with the Coat that the Colonel has given to her. Mrs. Bixby is always having a secret affair with the Colonel and cheats on Mr. Bixby. At the beginning of the book, I think Mrs. Bixby is very immoral because she betrays her husband for a long period of time. She uses a lot of excuses to hide the expensive coat which the Colonel has given to her and pretends she doesn't know anything. Most of the readers might feel bad for Mr. Bixby because his wife has cheated on him. However, the plot changed surprisingly. Mr. Bixby is also cheating on his wife and even gives the coat that the Colonel has given to Mrs. Bixby to Ms. Pulteney. After all, I think both Mr. Bixby and Mrs. Bixby are immoral and treacherous. I would recommend this book to my friends because the storyline is very interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2023
I like reading this book because the short story by Roald Dahl shows the underbelly of humanity. Mrs Bixby hopes to sneak the coat into her home without arousing her husband's suspicions, but soon discovers her husband, Mr Bixby, has his own plans.
In fact, both characters do not deserve sympathy as they are portrayed as unethical. Mrs Bixby initially believes the pawnbroker has cheated her of her coat and intends to confront him. But as she leaves her husband's office, Dr Bixby's secretary, Miss Pulteney, walks proudly past her, wearing the mink coat. It is implied Dr Bixby is having an affair with Miss Pulteney, decided to give her the coat, and purchased a cheap stole for his wife instead. As Mrs Bixby cannot demand the coat back without revealing her own affair, she is hoist with her own petard.
In fact, both characters do not deserve sympathy as they are portrayed as unethical. Mrs Bixby initially believes the pawnbroker has cheated her of her coat and intends to confront him. But as she leaves her husband's office, Dr Bixby's secretary, Miss Pulteney, walks proudly past her, wearing the mink coat. It is implied Dr Bixby is having an affair with Miss Pulteney, decided to give her the coat, and purchased a cheap stole for his wife instead. As Mrs Bixby cannot demand the coat back without revealing her own affair, she is hoist with her own petard.
July 15, 2023
This story is one that caught my attention out of so many Roald Dahl stories I have read. This story mentions about Mrs Bixby not being loyal to his husband for some reasons and she fell in love with the Colonel. The Colonel bought something for Mrs Bixby but she got to hide it from her husband. The story describes how she thought of ways to get through her husband. Mrs Bixby loves wealth, fame and money so she just cheated on her husband. This story just talks about how some females during the old times marry men for using them, and divorcing them just for financial gain. Well, at the end Mrs Bixby’s husband had his own plan secretly and I’m not going to spoil what happened to Mrs Bixby. Anyway, I highly recommend you all to read this anecdote as it portrays how Roald Dahl sees in a way we could relate with.
July 16, 2021
I really love this story written by Roald Dahl a famous story writer. the story is about a married woman who cheated on her husband. Every year she will use an excuse to find her affair instead of visiting her grandma but to meet up with him. One time her affair gave her a coat for as a gift, but she knew her grandma could not afford to buy her one so she lied to her husband. In my opinion I like this book, but i feel like it is not very suitable for children to read, since its about someone cheating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2018
I am intrigued by the ending of this book. There wasn't any ending, it just leaves you and your big imagination to think what happened next, which is not a bad way to end a story. To me, there was just so many possibilities why the Colonel left her, either he left her because of war, or just simply sadism.
April 19, 2018
Absolutely sneaky and hilarious!
This reminded me of a story in the Hindi movie 'Dus Kahaniyan', and looks like that was inspired by this one.
Dahl is a master of humorous tricks and this one proves it, yet again.
This reminded me of a story in the Hindi movie 'Dus Kahaniyan', and looks like that was inspired by this one.
Dahl is a master of humorous tricks and this one proves it, yet again.
July 14, 2018
This is an amazing story with a unexpected and interesting plot twist. It definitely makes the reader feel differently in different parts of the story, which is something I absolutely love about this short story. It also has educates people to be loyal.
May 26, 2023
Una historia con un final predecible por lo que busca transmitir la moraleja, pero que, aunque predecible, logra transmitir el mensaje y nos deja con un sentimiento de satisfacción por el desenlace.
Incluso logrará arrancar alguna sonrisa.
Incluso logrará arrancar alguna sonrisa.
October 6, 2017
Es entretenido y el final muy divertido.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews