Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
Not found
Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
Get the full theme breakdown in the app
Detailed evidence, confidence ratings, and source citations for every theme.
Download for iOSExample theme card
Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
No violence is depicted in the story. The narrative focuses on themes of infidelity and deception rather than physical conflict or harm. No genuinely frightening content is present in the story. The themes explored are more about deception and moral dilemmas than horror or fear.
Does Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
No violence is depicted in the story. The narrative focuses on themes of infidelity and deception rather than physical conflict or harm.
Does Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
No genuinely frightening content is present in the story. The themes explored are more about deception and moral dilemmas than horror or fear.
Does Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have religious themes?
No religious content in the book itself. The search results do not indicate any religious practices, beliefs, or ceremonies within the narrative of 'Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat.'
Does Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
No explicit racial themes or discussions are present in the story. The narrative does not focus on race as a central theme or plot element.
Does Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
The story contains mild profanity, including the phrase 'goddamn,' which is used in a moment of frustration by Mrs. Bixby. This language is not pervasive but does appear in the text.
Does Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
No climate themes are present in the story. The narrative does not address environmental issues or activism.
Does Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
The story involves an affair between Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel, which is central to the plot. However, the sexual content is not graphic and is framed within the context of adult relationships and moral implications.
Does Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The story reflects traditional gender roles, particularly through the character of Mrs. Bixby, who engages in an affair due to her husband's neglect. This dynamic suggests a critique of mid-century marital expectations and women's roles.
Does Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes are explicitly present in the story 'Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat.' The search results reference other works and discussions but do not provide evidence of LGBTQ+ content in this specific story.
