Penguin reissues Dahl's grown-up stories

26.08.11 | Charlotte Williams-The Bookseller

Penguin is reissuing its collections of short stories for adults by renowned children's author Roald Dahl.

The rejacketed paperback versions, priced £8.99, will be reissued in four batches, beginning with Someone Like You; Kiss Kiss; Over To You; and My Uncle Oswald on 1st September. Switch Bitch; The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar; Ah, Sweet Mysteries of Life; and Boy will be released on 27th October.
Going Solo and Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories will follow on 2nd February 2012. Volumes one and two of The Complete Roald Dahl Short Stories, plus and a new, untitled collection, will be published in September 2012.
Elizabeth Smith, Michael Joseph marketing director and associate publisher, said Penguin was taking the opportunity to remind readers that there was more to Dahl than his children's books. She said: "I can't think of any other author that the whole family can enjoy, can sit down in a room and have a family experience with, each reading a different book." She added: "He is a master of short stories and of the macabre short story. I wanted to bring them to a new generation."
On the jacket designs, Smith added: "We tried to go for contemporary retro, and I think we've achieved it."
The four titles released in September will coincide with the sixth annual Dahl Day on 13th September, which celebrates his work every year on the day that would have been his birthday. The publications also anticipate Dahl's centenary in four years' time.