3 Review(s)

The Collected Short Stories Of Saki was written by Hector Hugh Munro, hailed to be the master of the short story. It is a compilation of his best, most entertaining stories dripping with his trademark dry wit, and satirical humor, depicting early twentieth century Edwardian culture and society. Summary Of The Book The Collected Short Stories Of Saki presents Munro’s finest short stories that were originally published in the early 1900s. Most of the stories in the book range from 3 to 5 pages long. These entertaining vignettes, provide a delightful account of high-class Edwardian society as seen through his sharp eye for spotting humor even in the most mundane situations. In these stories, Munro draws brilliant sketches of his characters - an eclectic bunch of bored, funny, and rich men and women from high society. The stories range from the hilarious, outrageously funny kind to the somewhat sinister, eerie, and macabre. These cleverly written stories never fail to entertain with their twist in-the-tale plotlines. The Collected Short Stories Of Saki brings some of Munro’s most famous, and popular stories to the table, including Mrs Packletide's Tiger, Sredni Vashtar, The Unrest-Cure, The Open Window, The Background, Shock Tactics, The Stampeding of Lady Bastable, and The Schartz-Metterklume Method. His knack for storytelling, and skillful imagination is evident, for instance, in Gabriel Ernest, which is an eerie story about a werewolf. The Music On The Hill captures the vivid imagery of a Greek God exploring the forests around an idyllic English countryside, spreading menace along the way. Esmé is an unsettling hunting story, in which, a Baroness describes her encounter with a hyena in a desolate countryside, as it began to devour a gypsy child before her eyes. Munro’s affinity for children and domestic animals was a well known fact, and shines through the funny humor present in stories such as The Lumber Room and The Seventh Pullet. The Collected Short Stories Of Saki has something for everyone, be it witty stories with a twisted sense of humor, or thrilling stories on English paganism as witnessed about hundred years ago. About Hector Hugh Munro British writer Hector Hugh Munro, better known by the pen name Saki is often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy Parker. His works include, The Rise of the Russian Empire, The Unbearable Bassington, Dogged, When William Came, Beasts and Super Beasts, and The East Wing. He is known for his distinctly English, dry, deadpan wit, and amusing, witty style of writing. Born on December 18, 1870 in Burma, Munro was educated at Pencarwick, and Bedford School. He started writing as a journalist with various publications, while working on his novels. He was influenced by Oscar Wilde, Kipling, and Lewis Carroll, and an inspiration to P. G. Wodehouse. The Open Window was perhaps his most famous short story. Munro died on November 13, 1916.