Kiss, Kiss / Switch Bitch / My Uncle Oswald

by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl is revered for books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. But what many grown-up readers don't know is that Dahl applied his uproariously wicked sensibility to material for those of us above the age of consent. So leave it to QPB to bring together, in an exclusive 3-in-l edition, this altogether different Dahl, but one with all the delicious wit you remember. For short stories that manage to be funny, sexy, and macabre all at once, here are Kiss Kiss and Switch Bitch, two col- lections by "the absolute master of the twist-in-the-tale," says the Observer. My Uncle Oswald is a hilarious novel that follows the erotic exploits of "the greatest fornicator of all time," Oswald Hendryks Cornelius, first introduced in Switch Bitch. Lust, triumph, the galling deflation of defeat: Dahl captures them all in these superbly taut black comedies of human weakness and unexpected reversal.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories

205 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

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

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

What the hell did I just read!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see snozberries in a whole new light!

ICk! Dahl can be such a great story teller, but there were so many bleak, dark, and twisted tales in this collection. The misogyny is incredible. There was an occasional story with a tone more amusing than sickening. Kiss Kiss contained several AWFUL stories, a few tolerable stories... Switch Bitch was the best set. Once you get past the misogyny, it was quite entertaining.

Constant theme in Kiss Kiss was dysfunctional relationships and battle of the sexes
"The Landlady" - DUMB - bitter almonds
"William and Mary" - unpleasant - floating eyeball, bad relationship
"The Way Up to Heaven" - awful - wife wants to go to france. husband is controlling...
"Parson's Pleasure" - OK - about an antiques swindler
"Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat" - woman cheating on husband gets a fur (bad relationship)
"Royal Jelly" - dull - beekeeper with sick baby (disconnected relationship)
"Georgy Porgy" - OK - preacher is afraid of women. best part was that he named 6 female rats after the abhorred (ha) women chasing him and 6 male rats "me" and experimented on them (issues with women) like the nursery rhyme
"Genesis and Catastrophe: A True Story" - short tale of future world leader
"Edward the Conqueror" - Liszt reincarnated as a cat (bad relationship)
"Pig" - too macabre for me - a naive vegetarian. names zuckermann and glosspan from charlotte's web and candide
"The Champion of the World" - don't remember.

[Kara Moss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I would like this way more than I did. This was a book of short stories and one novella by the author who wrote "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." It was technically well written with good dialogue and descriptive passages. The ideas behind each story were clever and well executed, but I almost didn't finish it. The book has not aged well. The main, mostly male, protagonists, were horrible. Story after story, they were manipulative, rapey, greedy, sexist, racist sociopaths. Most of the main characters had no redeeming qualities at all, and it quickly grew painful reading about them. I had no interest in what happened to them whatsoever. Two or three of the stories didn't fit that pattern, but they were few and far between. Dahl is an excellent writer, but, sheesh, this was a bad book!

[Naomi]

The stories in Kiss Kiss are probably the best of the three, even though I had already read many of them in another volume.
Switch Bitch contains four stories, one amusing, one dark, and two featuring Uncle Oswald.
And finally My Uncle Oswald - which contains the identification of 'snozzberries.'
I recommend skipping the Oswald stories. Too much male-fantasy about Oswald having sex with whichever woman he wants, and then in 'My Uncle,' getting a female colleague to agree to being raped by various cultural figures, and then describing the encounters. (Typically non-explicitly, but not necessary either.)

[Lison Vandamme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nouvelles à chutes surprenantes

[Saphi · Rating 3 out of 5]

...It's okay, I get the book genre

...But my childhood is utterly ruined

Uncle Oswald is also FUCKING WEIRD MAN

[zoe☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

didnt feel like i was reading, the short stories were really fun and each memorable, but the last story i got tired of quickly and didnt enjoy as much

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 very short stories with twist endings. very entertaining! definitely not anything like his children's books but great reads

[John Bruni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember when you were a kid, reading books like CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, THE WITCHES, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH and others? Well now that you're an adult, I highly recommend looking into Roald Dahl's work for adults, the best of which can be found in this volume. It's an omnibus edition of three books: two collections of short stories and one novel. KISS KISS and SWITCH BITCH will get you familiar with his odd sense of humor, his transgressive intentions and most importantly, his evil streak when it comes to come-uppance. It's hard to pick a favorite short story from this whole book, because some are jolting and some are grotesque and some are hilarious, but most are all three. There are only a couple of stories that fall flat, and that's a pretty good record for a volume this big. Best of all, he's very subtle. He doesn't spell things out for you, but all the same, you can easily grasp his meaning. Keep a close eye on "Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat," "Pig," "The Great Switcheroo," "The Last Act" and "Bitch."

However, the crowning glory of this book is the novel, MY UNCLE OSWALD. It's the story of how a world-renowned sex addict became rich, by creating "male enhancement" pills and also stealing sperm from geniuses and royalty and selling them to rich women. I'm shocked that in this day and age, this novel hasn't made it to the big screen. If Jonathan Rhys Meyers wasn't so old, he would have been the perfect guy to play Oswald Cornelius.

I can't tell you how much I recommend this depraved book. It belongs on every pervert's bookshelf.

[Jade Dermody · Rating 3 out of 5]

reading adult roald dahl is making a carcash on the motorway of my youth. I know its going to be sick but i cant help but look. I loved Roald Dahl as a kid and reading his twisted adult books in destroying the innocents (or maybe just highlighing it) of my youth. This man was a twisted little puppy

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Dave gave me Uncle Oswald to read... great book, super edgy and made me want to read more of Dahl's "adult" books. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of a shock while reading... Can't wait to read the other two in this series.

[Araminta Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could rate each story individually as some of them were quite good -- particularly "Georgie Porgy" and "Switcheroo". Others, though (like "Royal Jelly") were terrible. Absolutely terrible.

[gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

my uncle oswald is my hero

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book as well: sexual, violent, but usually if not always playful and snarky, these three books are the non-children's book writings of Roald Dahl, and extremely curious!

[Jane]

If you like Twilight Zone you will like this.

[Nabanita]

wickedly humourous:D

[Tinquerbelle]

1) Kiss, Kiss
2) Switch Bitch
3) My Uncle Oswald

[Mascha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVE this book. It keeps you thinking long after finishing a story. Gruwelijk!

[C. James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Dahl that's not for kids. Great comic writing along with funny sex. I never read anything by Dahl I didn't like.

[Sindhu Maiyya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and intriguing short stories and skits.

[Tony Leong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Roald Dahl as a kid. Now as an adult, I found these short stories and was blown away. Funny, dark, and full of twists each one is special in its own way. Great collection.

[ณัฐพันธุ์ บุญเลิศ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ชอบเรื่อง The Way Up to Heaven สะใจเบาๆ
กับ Parson's Pleasure

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit I did not finish all the stories in this book. It is pretty bizarre. Kind of like Twilight Zone in short story format. Not my cup of tea.