The Twits
Roald Dahl
Whether you have fond memories of reading this book as a child or reading it to your own children many moons ago, there is a shared nostalgia and love for this Roald Dahl classic that transcends generations. The Twits (first published in 1980) is one of the most famous and iconic works out of Dahl’s impressive 37 publications.
The story follows the antics of Mr and Mrs Twit, a hideous couple intent on playing silly pranks on each other and showing nothing but cruelty to those who cross them. Whilst The Twists has long become synonymous with Quentin Blake’s unmistakable illustration style, there is an animated movie adaptation coming to Netflix in June 2025 for our imaginations to ponder. So, to get ahead of the film, let’s refresh our memories by revisiting this classic.
“This is possibly the funniest Dahl book I’ve read [...] His description of the Twits, particularly Mr Twit, is so disgustingly hilarious, you can practically hear kids squealing [...] And his insight into some human characteristics is quite amazing.”
- Sanch Writes
Meet Mr. Twit, a hairy and unhygienic man who delights in smearing food into his unwashed beard and tricking his wife into believing the world around her is changing. Please also meet his wife, Mrs. Twit, a shrivelled and equally loathsome woman who gets back at him with her own cunning pranks. Together, they make a gruesome pair whose entire relationship is based on mutual hatred. Quite the despicable duo, no?
“The Twits must be the vilest characters to have ever been written in a children’s book, and their contempt for each other just leaps out of the pages.”
- What’s Good to Read
Their cruelty knows no limits. Not only do they find pleasure in pranking each other, but The Twits also insist on abusing animals for their own hilarity. The sadistic Twits hold encaged monkeys (named the Muggle-Wumps) in their garden, making them stand on their heads like some kind of experiment. They also trap birds on branches with glue so that they can feast on them later in a bird pie.
Dahl endeavours to prove that cruelty and nastiness are self-destructive, as the Twits’ downfall is engineered by the very creatures they have been tormenting. We won’t spoil the ending for you, but let’s just say that the Twits’ world is turned upside down. Justice is felt and it’s satisfying and hilarious, reinforcing the notion that kindness and intelligence will win over cruelty and ignorance. A message that should resonate with us all.
“Rereading The Twits now, I was reminded that there is also a lesson in it: how we can overcome our differences and achieve common goals by being kind to one another.”
- The Guardian
Roald Dahl’s genius lies in his ability to take the absurdity of a child’s imagination and turn it into a novel that parents will enjoy equally. Throughout his works, he uses extraordinary wit that shapes children’s humour and gives adults food for thought too! It is not often you’ll remember the in-and-outs of the novel decades after you’ve read them, but somehow we are all fluent in the works of Dahl – which plays testimony to his outrageous plot lines and worlds away from our own.
In June 2025, Netflix is realising the highly-anticipated movie adaptation, almost a quarter of a century from its first publication. With stars such as Johnny Vegas, Emilia Clarke, and Natalie Portman starring in the classic children’s novel, we are unbelievably excited to see how stinky they can make the Twits (hopefully, it’s not 4D).
Other works by Roald Dahl
You will have more than likely heard of The Twits, but Roald Dahl is behind many more of your favourite works, such as:
- James and the Giant Peach (1962)
- Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (1964)
- Fantastic Mr Fox (1970)
- The BFG (1982)
- Matilda (1988)
Feel a sense of nostalgia with Victoria Freudenheim
At Victoria Freduenheim, we love to look back at our favourite childhood novels to bring back a healthy dose of nostalgia! But, if you’re looking for something new and addictive to read, then why not discover our top-rated novels and check our latest reviews? In the meantime, keep up to date with all the latest bookish content with the Victoria Freudenheim blog!
