Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Genesis and Catastrophe is a brilliant gem of a short story from Roald Dahl, the master of the sting in the tail.
In Genesis and Catastrophe, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a baby is born and his worried parents, who have lost children before, are concerned for his future . . .
Genesis and Catastrophe is taken from the short story collection Kiss Kiss, which includes ten other devious and shocking stories, featuring the wife who pawns the mink coat from her lover with unexpected results; 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 Juliet Stevenson.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
No violence detected in the book. The narrative focuses on the emotional concerns of parents rather than physical violence. Search results reference the author's experiences during World War II but do not indicate violence in the story itself. The story presents a sinister narrative about the darker side of human nature, which may be unsettling for some readers, particularly due to the context of a mother worried about her newborn after losing previous children. This could be considered mildly scary for younger audiences.
Does Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
No violence detected in the book. The narrative focuses on the emotional concerns of parents rather than physical violence. Search results reference the author's experiences during World War II but do not indicate violence in the story itself.
Does Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
The story presents a sinister narrative about the darker side of human nature, which may be unsettling for some readers, particularly due to the context of a mother worried about her newborn after losing previous children. This could be considered mildly scary for younger audiences.
Does Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have religious themes?
No religious content in the book itself. The search results do not mention any religious practices or beliefs present in the story.
Does Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
No explicit racial themes in the book. The search results do not indicate any discussion of race or racism as a central theme in 'Genesis and Catastrophe'.
Does Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
No profanity detected in the book. The search results do not indicate any use of strong language or profanity.
Does Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
No climate themes detected in the book. The search results do not reference any environmental issues or climate-related content in 'Genesis and Catastrophe'.
Does Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
No sexual content in the book. The search results do not reference any sexual themes or content related to 'Genesis and Catastrophe'.
Does Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The book does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. The narrative focuses on parental concern rather than gender dynamics. Search results do not indicate any gender role themes.
Does Genesis and Catastrophe (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes in the book. The search results do not indicate any LGBTQ+ content related to 'Genesis and Catastrophe'.
