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"Genesis and Catastrophe: A True Story" is a short story written by Roald Dahl first published in Playboy magazine and included in his 1962 book Kiss Kiss. It is a fictionalized account based upon a true historical incident. It is also known as "A Fine Son".
Contents
Plot summary
The story begins with Klara, an Austrian German woman, who has just given birth to a son. She is fearful that this child will die, as she has had three children, named Otto, Gustav and Ida, previously and all of them have died. Her husband, Alois, remembers how small and frail the new baby is, even compared to the others. The doctor and midwife assure the mother that the baby is healthy. They beg the father to show more compassion toward his wife and to hope for the child's survival. The story ends with Klara praying, "He must live, Alois. He must, he must... Oh God, be merciful unto him now..." Her son's name is Adolf Hitler.
Adaptations
"Genesis and Catastrophe" was adapted into an episode of the television series Tales of the Unexpected by Ronald Harwood in 1980 and into a short film by director Jonathan Liebesman in 2000.