The Swan

by Roald Dahl

The Swan is a short story from Roald Dahl, often read published within The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More (1977) .

It relates the tale of the boys Ernie and his friend Raymond, who like to bully Peter Watson. When Ernie receives a rifle for his fifteenth birthday, they both decide to go to the rabbit field, shooting birds on their way. There, they quarrel with Peter, and something entirely unexpected takes place.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, British Literature, Classics

Unknown Binding

First published September 12, 1977

About the author

Roald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.

Reviews

[Miranda S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent portrayal of the cruel and potentially violent reality of interactions with abused and uneducated males.

[Josh Ashing · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark, twisted short story about the evils of bullying & bad parenting.
Some of the behavior & language used in this story strikes an unnerving chord.
This is a side of Dahl I've haven't experienced yet. A story that you don't like enjoying.

"Some people, when they have taken too much and have been driven beyond the point of endurance, simply crumple & give up. There are others, though they are not many, who will for some reason always be unconquerable. You meet them in time of war & also in time of peace. They have an indomitable spirit and nothing, neither pain nor torture nor threat of death, will cause them to give up. Little Peter Watson was one of these."

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can understand the complaints about the shallowness of characters. They were all bad or all good. It was a short story. So some liberties to be had. But the symbolism was magic. Breathtaking. Strength and resilience. Peter is a literal angel. It is violent. But man. I was there. I felt him cut through the bird's joint.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

May we all be so firm when facing evil as little Peter is.

But seriously, this is an intense little story and I did not enjoy reading it.

[E. Hopkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's a story about sadism and cruelty, nothing more. The fact that these sadistic acts are perpetrated by a 15-year-old boy and his equally-evil friend (children!) makes this story even more disturbing. Yes, Ernie was brought up to be that way, but that still does not excuse his trigger happiness towards the birds, the swan, or Peter (not to mention that he also tried to get Peter run over by a train). We all have consciences, and we must listen to the message in our conscience when our parents fail to provide us with the right message.

[Riley Maloney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I watched a man with rlly blue eyes read this one on screen!

I am unconquerable though

[Joshua · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe Dahl was trying to explore themes about abuse, bullying, and classism, BUT MAN, did this story just feel like "violence porn"; sadism for the purpose of making you feel uncomfortable. subtlety would have worked better to get the subject across, I think.

[Ali G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a re-read for me, this is one of my all time fave stories. It is heartbreaking, and to anyone that has ever been bullied, is an accurate portrayal of cruelty that humans (even children) are capable of.

[Paul Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gruesome story, recommended by the Incomparable podcast on a recent episode about Roald Dahl. Near a small English village two young proto-psychopaths kill birds and torment an torture a nerdy classmate. Dark and violent as is much of Dahl's work, rather dated in its language but still affecting, however the ending is something of an anticlimax. The fantastical turn could have easily been used to far better effect.

[nmv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roald Dahl who hurt you.

Literally fuck them kids.

Realizing I’m the sicko of the family by how much I enjoyed this story as opposed to my sister and my dad whoops.

Apparently I like stuff that makes me feel sick and horrified??? Whoops.

I hope Ernie and whatshisface fucking choke.

Anyways, masterfully written, as always.

[Joan Wi88ows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok I saw the film on Netflix and while I was lightly familiar with some of the other stories in the film collection I did not know this one. And I honestly can’t put my finger on it but I am blown away by this short story. It’s just incredible and I highly recommend it. again I’m not even totally sure why it’s so good but it’s undoubtedly a masterpiece as many of Dahl’s works are and is going to my favorites shelf as soon as I can buy a copy.

[Erica Pehrson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sorry, WHAT!!?? What a horrific little story about bullying and the loss of innocence! Anyone who knows me knows how precious birds are to my heart and this story was HARD. I kinda wanna curl up and cry now.

I read this after watching the Wes Anderson adaptation of the story and it was basically word for word. EXCELLENT film. He is truly my top 3 favorite film makers.

[Eugenio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Therefore, Peter told himself, he must continue to be passive. Don’t insult them. Do not aggravate them in any way. And above all, do not try to take them on physically. Then, hopefully, in the end, they might become bored with this nasty little game and go off to shoot rabbits.
But they didn't...

[Eurydice · Rating 4 out of 5]

რამდენი უცოდველი ანგელოზი ეცემა გედის სისხლიანი ფრთებით ჩვენ თვალწინ მიწაზე?

[Lannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bro was the real swan all along.

[kutingtin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an 11 page read and is included in the Henry sugar book. It stars Ernie who was given a 22 caliber rifle on his birthday (ikr? who does that?!) and his bestfriend Raymond and their quest (bullying) to knock down Peter Watson- the hoy who is everything they are not.

“Some people, when they have taken too much and have been driven beyond the point of endurance, simply crumple and give up. There are others, though they are not many, who will for some reason always be unconquerable. You meet them in time of war and also in time of peace. They have an indomitable spirit and nothing, neither pain nor torture nor threat of death, will cause them to give up. Peter Watson was one of these.”

Roald Dhal delights as always, but also terrifies and saddens us all on this one. 🦢😔🤍

[Rachelle Tang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book which is not like the typical "Roald Dahl" style ones. Book about three main characters, 2 vs 1, humiliating the poor, ingenious little Peter Watson suffering from rancorous bullying. The description of the bullying was very realistic, Roald Dahl didn't exaggerated,it was possible, but it didn't happen in front of us, think about for a while, imagine yourself being tided and thrown to the train track by psychopaths, threatening you to stop moving and talking or they will shoot you to death with a caliber rifle. Together the gang bullied or maybe wanting to "murder" the "nice" boy.
Never irrelevant for children to read, because they have to know there is a possibility that it will happen to them, they have to read it before they know it.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading this as part of Roald Dahl's "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More" I actually tore the story from the binding and threw it in the trash. No child should ever come across this piece of sadistic filth. Absolutely unnecessary and inappropriate. As an adult I found it unsettling. I donate any read books I have in my possession to my local library, this one has been abridged by myself for the benefit of our young community, I would say.

[Lia Gavin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story is horrific and disturbing. The plot is revolting and while it is written well I would not recommend it. If you like disturbing and horrifying stories then you may like it, but I did not.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely cruel and violent story. I suspect that Dahl accumulated some of his ideas during his public and boarding school years.

[Amri Hakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Peter Watson's bully, Ernie was gifted a rifle for his birthday, everything got dark quickly in this twisted tale.

Today, after almost a year emotionally horrified by its adaptation, I read the source material written by Roald Dahl. The short story evoked the same feelings indeed. It seized you from the beginning and never let go until the very end. The scarring tale showed us how humans commit to their depravity through the portrayal of bullying within its young adult characters. Despite it being bleak and intense, Roald managed to convey the indomitable spirits of some people which, for some reason, are always unconquerable. It is also worth pointing out how an abusive household can shape the person you become, contributing to the cycle of depravity in some of us. Beware that everything happened throughout the story was trigerring, violence after violence. I deeply sympathise with Pete as someone who once bullied.

It an upsetting read, but sprinkled with glimpse of hope that the readers too should be like the swan. Calm on the surface, but paddle frantically underneath. Be unconquerable like Pete :')

[Saurabh L · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ended up reading this as part of The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and six more.

What I expected? Some good intriguing story.
What I got? Grotesque horror.

The story is well written but I am missing the point of it, I can't justify it existing especially in a book often categorized for children.


We get to see two bullies just doing bad to the world and coming across Peter and tormenting him.
In the end bullies have killed more than dozen of birds including a duck and a swan mother in bird sanctuary.
This all would have been fine if I had signed up for horror and was reading it, I did not expect my day to get ruined out of nowhere by reading a children's book.

The end is can said to be positive one but it ends with giving any sense of justice.
I simply do not like what this story was about, what it emphasized and especially where I came across it.

If I was in place of Peter, I would have rather died than just being satisfied with getting away from tormentors. Don't want to live in a world where they can walk free.

[Mike Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good, and most definitely adult, short story from Roald Dahl.
It's very much not in the vein of most of his other stories - decidedly unpleasant, and much more gritty than everything else (besides his non-fiction) I've read. There are hints of the children's author in his characterisations, which are slightly catroonosh and over the top, but are still real enough to make it believable.
There were almost hints of Stephen King in how the everyday cruelty of life was portrayed, and the air of menace on an otherwise-beautiful day. It definitely makes me think that his adult horror novels will have some real bite to them, when I get round to them.
For me, the ending was a bit weak, and I would have preferred something a little bit more realistic. It was also a bit abrupt, and I think could have benefitted from being slightly longer, although it was still an enjoyable read.

[B L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to read, to be sure. For those who aren't aware, an immense amount of bullying and hazing historically has taken place in schools in the U.K., and some deaths have been a result. I think Dahl was speaking to this culture more than anything else. In other words, I don't get the sense that he wrote the story to be grotesque or disturbing, but maybe trying to bring awareness to what many schoolchildren were going through and went through in his time of life. Incidentally, many bullying/hazing deaths were covered up by schools or explained away to parents. I'm sure times have changed, but modern persons may be surprised by the amount of violence in this story. Older persons may see it as more of an allegory to the unchecked and intense amount of bullying that went on until recently (and maybe still does?)

[Brett Bayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen a number of words from other reviewers to describe "The Swan": gruesome, sadistic, disgusting...and they are all correct. This is Dahl's most horrific story—straight-up torture porn that continually defied me to continue. As shocking and terrifying as it is, though, you keep reading in the hopes that there will be a satisfying conclusion. Alas, as some others have pointed out, the ending is a genuine anticlimax. My reaction was a mere, "Huh?"

[Max Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Similar to some other reviews, it was quite disturbing but I wouldn't say overly so or consider it a disgusting story. I was tired and wanted to stop reading but couldn't as I needed to finish it. If I was younger I probably would've hated it but I did really enjoy it, it's well written and definitely interesting and different to a normal bullying story. I didn't mind the ending as it could be up for interpretation, a slight anticlimax but I think it was intentional and still well done.

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Some people, when they have taken too much and have been driven beyond the point of endurance, simply crumple and give up. There are others, though they are not many, who will for some reason always be unconquerable. You meet them in time of war and also in time of peace. They have an indomitable spirit and nothing, neither pain nor torture nor threat of death, will cause them to give up.
Peter Watson was one of these"

[judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

"algunas personas, cuando ya han soportado demasiado y se han visto empujadas mas alla de los limites de su resistencia, simplemente se vienen abajo y se rinden. hay otras, aunque no son muchas, que por alguna razon seran siempre inconquistables. las encuentras en tiempos de guerra y tambien en tiempos de paz. poseen un espiritu indomable y nada, ni el dolor ni la tortura ni la amenaza de muerte, lograra que se rindan."

[Galib · Rating 4 out of 5]

– ছোট চড়াই ধরা যদি কঠিন মনে না হয় তাহলে বড় রেণপাখি ধরতে চেষ্টা করবি। যদি রেন ধরতে পারিস তাহলে বুঝব তুই মস্ত শিকারী। ওরা কখনো গাছে চুপ করে বসে থাকে না। খালি এক ডাল থেকে আর এক ডালে যায়।

আর্নির মা সিংকে থালাবাসন ধুতে ধুতে বলে – সকালবেলা পাখি ধরতে পাঠাচ্ছো ছেলেকে।ওরা হয়তো নিজের বাসায় একটু আরাম করছে, সেখানে গিয়ে ঠাস ঠাস করে গুলি করবে আর্নি?

[Manuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of an unmatched and exceptional narrative. A dark, disturbing, heart aching story vigorously and beautifully told. Though I wouldn't read it again, it was mad involving myself in the story of those too young psychopath bullies.