It may seem odd that I’ve chosen a Roald Dahl story as the scariest tale that I have read – he is best known for his light-hearted children’s stories. However, ‘Skin’ is a psychologically disturbing commentary on the greed of society that showcases Dahl’s immense ability to shock and appall.
It tells the tale of an old, poor man who has a woman’s portrait tattooed on his back by a very famous artist, Soutine. He receives an offer of employment at the Hotel Bristol where all he is obliged to do is show off his tattoo to the guests. He accepts this offer, dreaming of how much better his life will be. However, a few weeks later, a heavily varnished portrait of a woman by Soutine turns up at auction and we find out that there is no hotel called the Bristol.
The last line leaves us wondering how an art collector could have possibly obtained a brand new painting by Soutine, and the fate of that poor old man…