'Men like Henry sugar are to be found drifting like seaweed all over the world. They can be seen especially in London, New York, Paris, Nassau, Montego Bay, Cannes and St-Tropez.'
Seven tales of the bizarre and unexpected told by the grand master of the short story, Roald Dahl.
Enter a brilliant, sinister and wholly unpredictable world. Here you will find the suggestion of other-worldly goings-on in a dark story about a swan and a boy; the surprising tale of a wealthy young wastrel who suddently develops a remarkable new ability; and meet the hitchhiker whose light fingers save the day.
'An unforgettable read, don't miss it'
Sunday Times
Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life
'Something extremely unpleasant was about to happen - I was sure of that. Something sinister and cruel and ratlike ... but I had to see it now.'
The sweet scents of rural life infuse this collection of Roald Dahl's country stories, but there is always something unexpected lurking in the undergrowth ...
Whether it is taking a troublesome cow to be mated with a prime bull; dealing with a rat-infested hayrick; learning the ways and means of maggot farming; or describing the fine art of poaching pheasants using nothing but raisins and sleeping pills, Roald Dahl brings his stories of everyday country folk and their strange passions wonderfully to life. Lacing each tale with dollops of humour and adding a sprinkling of the sinister, Roald Dahl ensures that this collection is brimful of the sweet mysteries of life.
'All the stories sparkle with vibrant characters, humorous dialogue and sly rustic lore and cunning' Sunday Express
Going Solo
'It isn't often one gets the chance to save a person's life. It gave me a good feeling for the rest of the day.'
'They did not think for one moment that they would find anything but a burnt-out fuselage and a charred skeleton, and they were astounded when they came upon my still-breathing body lying in the sand nearby.'