Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life: The Country Stories of Roald Dahl is a collection of stories written by notable children’s author, Roald Dahl. The book was published in 1989, by publishing house, Jonathan Cape. Quentin Blake, frequent collaborator of Dahl’s, did the illustrations for the book.
In “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life”, Dahl writes about how cows are struggling to mate with bulls and produce good offspring. Mr Rummins, is an expert in mating, and gets involved to help the cows mate and also identify the gender of the offspring.
The stories in the anthology are al of Dahl’s previous works published in magazines in the 1950’s and 1940’s. Many disturbing concepts are mentioned, including illegal poaching, rat catching and maggot breeding – all used as a basis for dark humor throughout the course of the events of the stories.
The book has been adapted for television, with the first episode airing in the UK in 1992, and the US in 1993. It has since been released on DVD and VHS, and a stage adaptation has been produced in the UK. It also received an audiobook adaptation, with a full cast of voice actors.
The Country Stories of Roald Dahl is an essential collection for any Dahl fan and provides an interesting insight into the mind of a master storyteller. It contains some of Dahl’s most iconic characters, as well as some of his most famous stories. With its dark humor and unique writing style, The Country Stories of Roald Dahl is an essential collection for any Dahl fan and will provide hours of entertainment.
