Book Review: Esio Trot By Roald Dahl
In Esio Trot, an older single man named Mr. Hoppy lives downstairs in an apartment building, while an older single woman named Mrs. Silver lives just above him. Mr. Hoppy is lonely and secretly in love with his upstairs neighbour, admiring her from afar, but he’s also terribly jealous of the affection she gives her pet tortoise. So he devises a plan to deceive Mrs. Silver to gain her affection and, hopefully, secure a relationship with her.
I have many thoughts about Esio Trot. While many readers approach it as a harmless, lighthearted story, I am reading it through a moral and character-based lens, particularly because it is written for young children. From that perspective, I found the book not only dull and oddly paced, but also troubling in the messages it conveys about affection, honesty, and manipulation. I’ve only read Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, and James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl before, but I’m starting to notice a pattern in the way he portrays adult women. This isn’t the case with Matilda, which is probably why that novel remains one of his most beloved works.
Craftsmanship and Artistry
Unfortunately, Esio Trot is a rather dull read with slow pacing and few engaging aspects, so much so that I’m surprised it was considered publishable as a children’s book at all. The lack of excitement and the lack of usual whimsical flair of Roald Dahl make it surprisingly boring for young readers.
The central idea could have worked better as a more complex story for adults, but it simply doesn’t function well in a short children’s book format. It falls short in many ways in that regard.
From a structural standpoint, the only real strengths lie in Dahl’s eloquent use of language and his signature exaggerated characterizations. For example, his description of Mrs. Silver’s doting affection toward her tortoise captures Dahl’s tone perfectly. Yet this same exaggeration weakens the story’s grounding and charm. Overall, Esio Trot is certainly not one of Roald Dahl’s strongest works.★
Themes and Messages
I believe Esio Trot was intended to be a lighthearted or comedic story, but I found it rather disturbing. The main character’s jealousy drives him to deceive the woman he loves just to gain her affection, and the book presents this deception without any meaningful consequences. When Mr. Hoppy secretly replaces Mrs. Silver’s tortoise with larger ones to trick her into thinking it has grown, the story treats his scheme as clever rather than cruel.
Conversely, this novel, intended for young children, presents a problem that could be detrimental and have long-term consequences. It risks normalizing manipulation as a way to gain affection, going far beyond the 'normal' mistakes and blunders people make when seeking love or validation out of immaturity. Such a representation can mislead and influence young minds specifically, which this book is intended and marketed towards, into thinking that winning affection through deceit is acceptable or even admirable, especially since Dahl seems to frame Mr. Hoppy’s actions in an approving light.
From my own experience, I think it’s quite common for people to crave affection and validation to help build their self-image and sense of worth. This desire is powerful in children, young adults, and even some adults, and it isn’t inherently bad. However, I believe this longing is ultimately meant to be fulfilled through Christ. Even though struggles and waywardness can arise from this need for love, the ultimate goal should be to press into God and the affection He freely gives us, which we can then express as we draw nearer to Him.
This kind of story can still provide space for critical thinking when proper guidance is available, as Fantastic Mr. Fox does. But where Fantastic Mr. Fox and Esio Trot diverge is in their central motivations. In Fantastic Mr. Fox, the main character’s actions, though mischievous, are largely selfless; he’s providing for his family and community. In Esio Trot, however, Mr. Hoppy’s motivation is rooted in jealousy and cowardice; he deceives Mrs. Silver instead of being honest about his feelings.
This sends a troubling message: that manipulation and dishonesty can lead to happiness, which they rarely, if ever, do. Dishonesty and manipulation might bring temporary satisfaction or momentary success, but nothing false lasts.
I also disliked how easily deceived and naive Dahl made Mrs. Silver appear. Even if this was meant for comedic effect, it reinforces outdated and unflattering stereotypes about women that are difficult to overlook. Naivety is a perfectly human trait, and there’s nothing wrong with portraying it realistically, but when Mrs. Silver fails to recognize her own beloved pet, it feels exaggerated to the point of absurdity. Not every female protagonist needs to be brilliant or strong like Matilda or Miss Honey, but this particular portrayal feels lazy at best. ★
Final Thoughts
Overall, Esio Trot is not one of Roald Dahl’s best books. This doesn’t mean Dahl was a bad writer; his imagination and storytelling skills are irrefutable. But after learning more about his personal views, I can see how certain attitudes may have influenced his writing.
After reading several of his works, I’ve begun to notice a clear pattern in how Dahl portrays his characters. His female and male characters often exist at extremes: they are either exceptionally kind, virtuous, and intelligent (like Matilda or Miss Honey), or they are portrayed as grotesque, foolish, or morally corrupt. Male characters’ flaws are usually humorous or forgivable, while female characters’ flaws are often tied to vanity, foolishness, or moral weakness.
In Esio Trot, this imbalance becomes especially clear: the male protagonist’s deceit is rewarded, while the female character’s trust is exploited. This double standard doesn’t sit well with me, and I wish Dahl had employed more variety in how he portrayed both virtues and flaws in his characters. In Esio Trot, this imbalance in moral consequences makes it miss the mark as a children’s story.
Still, Dahl’s work raises interesting questions about how we view classic literature today. Can we appreciate the art while recognizing the flaws in the artist and in the stories themselves? Can we separate the work from the creator? Overall, in my opinion, this book is one star.
Content Disclaimer:
Deception, Jealousy, Manipulation, Mild Animal Mistreatment.
To learn more about Roald Dahl or explore his other beloved stories, visit the
official Roald Dahl website.
That’s all folks! Have you read Esio Trot?
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