William and Mary (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
William and Mary is a brilliant gem of a short story from Roald Dahl, the master of the sting in the tail.
In William and Mary, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a wronged woman takes revenge on her dead husband . . .
William and Mary 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 husband and wife who hit upon a novel way to feed their baby; 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 and Adrian Scarborough.
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 William and Mary (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The story contains elements of revenge and explores the darker side of human nature, which implies a level of violence, particularly as a wronged woman takes revenge on her dead husband. This suggests a serious theme of retribution. The story is described as sinister and explores darker themes, which may be unsettling for some readers. The implications of revenge and the exploration of human nature could be considered scary elements.
Does William and Mary (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
The story contains elements of revenge and explores the darker side of human nature, which implies a level of violence, particularly as a wronged woman takes revenge on her dead husband. This suggests a serious theme of retribution.
Does William and Mary (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
The story is described as sinister and explores darker themes, which may be unsettling for some readers. The implications of revenge and the exploration of human nature could be considered scary elements.
Does William and Mary (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 'William and Mary.'
Does William and Mary (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
No explicit racial themes are present in the book 'William and Mary.' The search results do not indicate any discussions or themes related to race within the narrative.
Does William and Mary (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
No profanity is noted in the book. The search results do not provide any evidence of inappropriate language in 'William and Mary.'
Does William and Mary (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
No climate themes are present in the book 'William and Mary.' The search results do not indicate any environmental discussions or activism within the narrative.
Does William and Mary (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
No sexual content is mentioned in the book 'William and Mary.' The search results do not indicate any sexual themes or situations within the narrative.
Does William and Mary (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The story features a wronged woman who takes revenge on her dead husband, which could be interpreted as a critique of traditional gender roles, suggesting themes of female empowerment and vengeance. However, the framing is ambiguous.
Does William and Mary (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes present in the book 'William and Mary.' Search results mention LGBTQ+ characters in unrelated works, but do not provide evidence of such content in this specific story.
