The Hitch-Hiker (short story)
Encyclopedia
The Hitch-Hiker is a short story
by Welsh
author Roald Dahl
that was originally published in the July 1977 issue of the Atlantic Monthly. The story features a man who picks up a hitch hiker whilst driving to London
. They talk, and the driver tells the hitch hiker about himself. He explains that he is a writer. The hitch-hiker says that the driver is a skilled professional, stating also that he too is in a skilled profession.
The person is driving a brand new BMW
car, and the hitch hiker challenges him to see if it really can go at 129 miles per hour. They reach a stretch of flat even road, and the driver opens up the throttle, he reaches 120 mph just as a police officer pulls him over. The officer threatens the driver with a lengthy prison sentence, and gives him a fine. The officer asks the hitch hiker what his address and occupation is, he tells him his address and also explains that he is a hod carrier. The police officer says he will be checking up on them both, and tells them to go on their way. After this meeting, the person is worried about the fine, the hitch hiker assures him that he won't get thrown into prison and reveals that he is a "fingersmith", a very skilled pick pocket. He then tells the driver that he has taken the police officer's ticket and note books, adding that they should leave the highway and make a bonfire to burn them.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
author Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
that was originally published in the July 1977 issue of the Atlantic Monthly. The story features a man who picks up a hitch hiker whilst driving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. They talk, and the driver tells the hitch hiker about himself. He explains that he is a writer. The hitch-hiker says that the driver is a skilled professional, stating also that he too is in a skilled profession.
The person is driving a brand new BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
car, and the hitch hiker challenges him to see if it really can go at 129 miles per hour. They reach a stretch of flat even road, and the driver opens up the throttle, he reaches 120 mph just as a police officer pulls him over. The officer threatens the driver with a lengthy prison sentence, and gives him a fine. The officer asks the hitch hiker what his address and occupation is, he tells him his address and also explains that he is a hod carrier. The police officer says he will be checking up on them both, and tells them to go on their way. After this meeting, the person is worried about the fine, the hitch hiker assures him that he won't get thrown into prison and reveals that he is a "fingersmith", a very skilled pick pocket. He then tells the driver that he has taken the police officer's ticket and note books, adding that they should leave the highway and make a bonfire to burn them.