The Way Up To Heaven

“The Way Up to Heaven” by Roald Dahl was initially published in 1954 in an issue of The New Yorker magazine and later included in his 1960 short story compilation book Kiss Kiss. The story was also adapted for TV in 1957 and 1979. Dahl is well known for his children’s novels, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, and The Big Friendly Giant, many of which appeal with elements that are unusually dark, weird, and creepy for children’s books. Less well known are Dahl's short stories for adults, which also channel these elements into adult themes, often with disturbing effect. These stories are ambiguous and resist simple explication: They often leave the reader to digest haunting implications long after reading. Many of these stories for adults portray interactions and scenarios exploring the effects of manipulation and psychological trauma on human behavior. “The Way Up to Heaven” is such a story, prompting consideration of The Limits of Tolerance for Abuse, The Ethics of Choosing Not to Act or omitting to intervene in certain situations, and The Negative Effects of Societal Expectations during the time of writing.

This guide refers to the 1978 Penguin Edition of Kiss Kiss.