The Visitor (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 Visitor is an amusing and chilling story from Roald Dahl, the master of the twist in the tale.
In The Visitor, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a funny, fruity story about one of his favourite characters, adventurer and seducer Oswald Hendryks Cornelius. Here, Uncle Oswald gets more than he bargained for in Arabia . . .
The Visitor is taken from the short story collection Switch Bitch, which includes three other black comedies which capture the ins and outs, highs and lows of sex (including another Uncle Oswald story, Bitch).
'One of the most widely read and influential writers of our generation.' (The Times )
This story is also available as a Penguin digital audio download read by Richard E. Grant and Derek Jacobi.
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 Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
No violence is depicted in 'The Visitor.' The search results reference violence in film adaptations and other unrelated content, but do not provide evidence of violence in the actual story. There are no genuinely frightening elements in 'The Visitor.' The search results reference horror themes in adaptations and other unrelated content, but do not provide evidence of scary content in the actual story.
Does The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
No violence is depicted in 'The Visitor.' The search results reference violence in film adaptations and other unrelated content, but do not provide evidence of violence in the actual story.
Does The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
There are no genuinely frightening elements in 'The Visitor.' The search results reference horror themes in adaptations and other unrelated content, but do not provide evidence of scary content in the actual story.
Does The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have religious themes?
No religious content is present in 'The Visitor.' The search results mention Roald Dahl's background and other unrelated content, but do not indicate any religious practices or beliefs within the story itself.
Does The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
The story features themes that can be interpreted as racially insensitive, particularly regarding the portrayal of Arab characters. The narrative includes Oswald's designs on his Syrian host's family, which has been criticized for its depiction of racial stereotypes.
Does The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
There is no evidence of profanity in 'The Visitor.' The search results mention profanity in film adaptations and other unrelated works, but do not indicate any use of profanity in the story itself.
Does The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
No climate themes are present in 'The Visitor.' The search results do not indicate any discussion of environmental issues or climate change within the narrative.
Does The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
'The Visitor' contains sexual content as it revolves around the character Oswald and his amorous designs on women, including references to seduction. The story is noted for its adult themes and is part of a collection that explores sexual dynamics.
Does The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The story presents themes of misogyny and sexual dynamics, particularly through the character of Oswald, who exhibits predatory behavior towards women. This portrayal can be seen as reinforcing traditional gender roles and stereotypes regarding male sexuality.
Does The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are explicitly mentioned in the narrative of 'The Visitor.' The search results primarily reference other books and their content, not the specific story by Roald Dahl.
