Uncle Oswald’s secret love drug

The name Roald Dahl is synonymous with children’s books.

He wrote some classics of the genre - “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda,” “James and the Giant Peach” - which became best sellers and hit films.

At first glance, “My Uncle Oswald” seems to fit neatly into this category.

You might imagine a little boy or a girl talking about a fascinating journey with his or her beloved uncle.

You’ve probably guessed by now that this is not the case. In fact, this book is far from children’s literature, very far. I mean, kids shouldn’t be let anywhere this book.

Why? Because Uncle Oswald is all about sex and money.

Dahl’s Oswald isn’t actually a new character.

He appeared in a couple of the author’s previous novels -adult novels - like “The Visitor” and “Switch Bitch.”

Oswald is known to be “the greatest rogue, bounder, connoisseur, bon vivant and fornicator of all time.”

When he discovers a powerful aphrodisiac, he begins to plan a secret scheme, placing the aphrodisiac inside chocolate truffles.

With a female accomplice, they try to seduce the world’s most famous men with the intent of selling their sperm. The plan is to sell it to women so they can get pregnant.

The male victims of Uncle Oswald? Marcel Proust, Giacomo Puccini, Sigmund Freud, and even, yes, Albert Einstein, just to name a few.

The book is fun, and even informative with facts about entomology, pharmacology, as well as oenology.

While the Daily Telegraph called it “Immense fun,” the Observer, “Deliciously silly” and the New York Times Book Review, “Extravagantly funny,” it’s up to individual readers to decide, of course. Just so you know, I read this one twice.

The book was originally published 30 years ago but has recently been translated into Korean.

My Uncle Oswald

Author: Roald Dahl

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Penguin

By Shin June-bong [estyle@joongang.co.kr]