The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) — Content Guide for Parents
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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
The Landlady is a brilliant gem of a short story from Roald Dahl, the master of the sting in the tail.
In The Landlady, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a young man in need of room meets a most accommodating landlady . . .
The Landlady 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 Tamsin Greig.
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 The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The story implies that the landlady has poisoned Billy's tea with cyanide and intends to stuff his corpse, indicating a graphic level of violence. This is a central plot point that contributes to the horror aspect of the story. The story is categorized as a horror story, featuring elements of suspense and a sinister atmosphere. The implication of murder and the landlady's unsettling behavior create a genuinely frightening experience for the reader.
Does The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
The story implies that the landlady has poisoned Billy's tea with cyanide and intends to stuff his corpse, indicating a graphic level of violence. This is a central plot point that contributes to the horror aspect of the story.
Does The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
The story is categorized as a horror story, featuring elements of suspense and a sinister atmosphere. The implication of murder and the landlady's unsettling behavior create a genuinely frightening experience for the reader.
Does The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have religious themes?
No religious content is present in 'The Landlady.' The search results do not indicate any religious practices, beliefs, or themes in the story.
Does The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
There are no explicit themes of race or racism in 'The Landlady.' The search results do not indicate any discussion of racial issues within the story.
Does The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
No profanity is present in 'The Landlady.' The search results do not mention any use of strong language in the story.
Does The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
No climate themes or environmental issues are present in 'The Landlady.' The search results do not indicate any discussion of climate-related topics in the story.
Does The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
There are no explicit sexual themes or content in 'The Landlady.' The search results do not indicate any sexual references or situations in the narrative.
Does The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
While the story features a female landlady and a male protagonist, it does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. The narrative focuses on the plot rather than gender dynamics.
Does The Landlady (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the narrative of 'The Landlady' by Roald Dahl. The search results do not provide any evidence of LGBTQ+ content in the story itself.
