Unlike the common sentimental pastoral stories of farm life, such as James Herriot's depiction of the Yorkshire countryside and its inhabitants, Dahl depicts the secrets and deceits that lurk behind every country face he portrays. A number of passages appear similar to the introduction to "Rummins": The sun was up over the hills now and the mist had cleared and it was wonderful to be striding along the road with the dog in the early morning, especially when it was autumn, with the leaves changing to gold and yellow and sometimes one of them breaking away and falling slowly, turning slowly over in the air, dropping noiselessly right in front of him on the grass beside the road.

Not only does this introduction provide a seemingly pastoral setting, but it also subtly indicates that Claud restlessly desires high adventure, when the wind rustles the leaves that...