Unlike other Dahl works (which often feature tyrannical adults and heroic/magical children), Esio Trot is the story of an aging lonely man (Mr. Hoppy), trying to make a connection with a person that he has loved from afar (his widowed neighbour, Mrs.

[2] In 1994, Monty Python star Michael Palin narrated the English language audiobook recording of the book.

[3] In 2015 it was adapted by Richard Curtis into a BBC television film, Roald Dahl's Esio Trot, featuring Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench as the couple, with James Corden narrating.

"[6] The decision was met with sharp criticism from groups and public figures including authors Salman Rushdie[7][8] and Christopher Paolini,[9] British prime minister Rishi Sunak,[7][8] Queen Camilla,[7][10] Kemi Badenoch,[11] PEN America,[7][8] and Brian Cox.

It features Dustin Hoffman, as Mr Hoppy and Judi Dench as Mrs Silver, with James Corden as the narrator.