The Landlady By Roald Dahl Summary

The Landlady is a creepy tale from author Roald Dahl this is in one of his many anthologies of short stories and is also the story featured in a small tv series based off of his books. The idea that is weaved throughout the story is that most things that seem to good to be true and more than likely are. This story is suspenseful and I'm sure readers will catch onto The Landlady's intentions long before seventeen year old Billy Weaver does. The author creates a sense of foreboding by the way he drops inklings starting with small but soon come together make a whole other side of the old lady one that is psychotic and murderous.
The Landlady is a vile predator and Billy Weaver is a naïve young boy who has left his home while he is still very young to pursue his dream of starting a career as a business man. In the beginning of the story the landlady who is portrayed as pleasant and sweet preps the bed and breakfast as if

anticipating Billy's arrival. Upon Billy's arrival in this new unknown town of Bath he asks about places he should stay and another gentlemen recommends the bell and dragon which isn't a pub not far from where Billy has left the train. Billy takes the mans advice and proceeds to go to the bell and dragon. As Billy walks down the street he notices a sign in the window of a bed and breakfast this catches his eye so he heads towards the house. Glancing around he inspects the outside interested he takes a closer look and peeks into the window. Everything about this home seems cozy as Billy describes it from the daschund curled up in front of the fire place to the seemingly alert parrot in the corner of the room. Billy stands for a moment debating with himself and then decides to carry out his original plan to go to the bell and dragon. As Billy walks away as the author says "a queer thing happens" he can't walk away he is drawn to the house and soon rings the bell. The door swings open almost too suddenly which is the first of many hints from the author. After a pleasant and brief introduction to each other Billy steps inside not knowing that in this instance he has sealed his fate and subjects himself to the untimely demise that awaits him.
Once Billy has entered the home he is told that they "have the whole place to themselves!!" By the old lady.

Billy is then shown to his room where the old lady informs him he must sign his name in the guest book downstairs before he goes to bed Billy assures her he will and the old lady goes on her way. He then settles himself in and and begins to unpack his bag he writes a letter to home which he leaves on the desk as he goes downstairs to do what he was asked. Billy enters the room where the guest book is located and goes to sign it when he notices there are only two other names in the guest book "Christopher Mulholland and Gregory Temple". They seem eerily familiar to Billy as well as the time jump between the last one and his own. He informs the old lady of this but she quickly persuades him from his beliefs convincing him he must be thinking of other people and not the ones she knows. Billy having no reason not to believe the old lady while still contemplating the names is convinced to sit down and drink tea with the old

lady.
Billy squeezes into the seat the lady has directed to him on a tiny love seat very close to her. The landlady pours Billy's tea while he is still sidetracked by the familiarity of the names he ponders them in his mind. The topic of the two men comes back up and things begin to get creepier. When Billy asks if Mr. Mulholland has left recently the land lady says “Left?” “But my dear boy, he never left. He’s still here. Mr Temple is also here. They’re on the third floor, both of them together.” This is a contradiction of her earlier story that they had the whole place to themselves. Billy goes quiet as if he is finally noticing on that somethings up but the thought quickly recedes. She compliments him but he is quick to become humble and then she says Mr. Temple didn't have a blemish on his body this represents that she has seen his body. More than weirded out he changes the subject. He then notices and exclaims "That parrot, You know something? It has me completely fooled when I looked through the window from the street. I could have sworn it was alive." This is when Billy realizes the parrot is stuffed and is not alive at all. The landlady taking pride in her work and satisfaction in Billy's interest says "and have you met my little Basil as well?" The daschund has been stuffed as well and by none other than the old lady she then says "I stuff all my little friends." This is the last straw in my opinion and by now readers are completely convinced she is crazy and probably fear for Billy now.
In conclusion The Landlady is an amazing piece of literature and is good for older readers. This story has so many characteristics of writing Roald Dahl is very illustrious and detailed in this story. I hope that this story instilled the idea that not everything is what it seems upon you because that is my takeaway from this story.