The Reverend Robert Lee, Vicar of Nibbleswicke and a charming and God-fearing man, caused utter confusion and often genuine consternation among his devout parishioners.

Robert Lee had suffered from severe dyslexia as a boy and had successfully overcome his problems with the help of the Dyslexia Institute. Later in life, soon after arriving at Nibbleswicke, he suddenly developed a particular and unusual sort of dyslexia. Occasionally, and without his knowledge, the words he used turned themselves around and came out of his mouth backwards and quite the wrong way around. For example, trap became part and his own name became Eel. The outrage and embarrassment which resulted was considerable.

Roald Dahl describes the awkwardness of the Vicar's situation on many occasions and explains the simple cure found in walking constantly backwards.