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Sredni Vashtar
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"Sredni Vashtar" is a short story written by Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) between 1900 and 1911 and initially published in his book The Chronicles of Clovis. It has been adapted for opera, film, radio and television.
The story concerns an unhealthy ten-year-old boy named Conradin, who lives with his strict cousin and guardian, Mrs. De Ropp. Conradin rebels against her and ...more
The story concerns an unhealthy ten-year-old boy named Conradin, who lives with his strict cousin and guardian, Mrs. De Ropp. Conradin rebels against her and ...more
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Sredni Vashtar went forth,
His thoughts were red thoughts and his teeth were white.
His enemies called for peace, but he brought them death.
Sredni Vashtar the Beautiful.
It was Friday night, I happened to be in an upcountry location. Feeling tired from the exhaustive mundane day-to-day official sequence of events (which are ironically necessary evils for your existence), I wanted to read something short. And searching through the web of internet (after following the pleasant distraction of news ...more
His thoughts were red thoughts and his teeth were white.
His enemies called for peace, but he brought them death.
Sredni Vashtar the Beautiful.
It was Friday night, I happened to be in an upcountry location. Feeling tired from the exhaustive mundane day-to-day official sequence of events (which are ironically necessary evils for your existence), I wanted to read something short. And searching through the web of internet (after following the pleasant distraction of news ...more
Picture a sickly ten-year old Edwardian boy, raised in a big house by a strict guardian. You might think of Colin in The Secret Garden (written and published shortly before WW1, as this was).
Image: Heydon Prowse as Colin Craven, 1993 (Source.)
But Conradin’s unspecified diagnosis seems more of an excuse for “coddling restrictions and drawn-out dullness” than the physical limitations imposed by Colin’s condition. And because Conradin is a child of Saki’s mind, he’s wily, and out to outsmart the ...more
Image: Heydon Prowse as Colin Craven, 1993 (Source.)
But Conradin’s unspecified diagnosis seems more of an excuse for “coddling restrictions and drawn-out dullness” than the physical limitations imposed by Colin’s condition. And because Conradin is a child of Saki’s mind, he’s wily, and out to outsmart the ...more
Oct 13, 2018
Laysee
rated it
it was amazing
Recommended to Laysee by:
Cecily
Shelves:
five-star-books
Shredni Vashtar is a disturbing morsel of a story by Saki (a.k.a. Hector Hugh Munro). Its eerie and perturbing quality is magnified as the protagonist is only a child and a sickly one.
Conradin is ten years old and not expected to live another five years. He has a guardian, Mrs. de Ropp, whom he deems ‘necessary and disagreeable and real.’ They both derive sadistic pleasure in hating each other, and the venom is veiled.
Conradin lives in his imagination as is sometimes true of children who are ...more
Conradin is ten years old and not expected to live another five years. He has a guardian, Mrs. de Ropp, whom he deems ‘necessary and disagreeable and real.’ They both derive sadistic pleasure in hating each other, and the venom is veiled.
Conradin lives in his imagination as is sometimes true of children who are ...more
Long time ago I read the short story, at school, and we were taken to the cinema, lots of young teens, and watched the short film too. I remember at that young age really enjoying the film more than the words. I will probably read it again.
A particular scene in the film stuck with me. The scene where the young boy is told that he must not accept butter for his toast when they have a guest. It would considered rude and too luxurious.
And I wanted a ferret too...but my dad said no because they ...more
A particular scene in the film stuck with me. The scene where the young boy is told that he must not accept butter for his toast when they have a guest. It would considered rude and too luxurious.
And I wanted a ferret too...but my dad said no because they ...more
“Sredni Vashtar” is tale about a sickly boy, bound to his large home, with no real outlets for his creativity and boredom. He has a hen and a caged polecat-ferret for pets. He is watched over by a kind of governess, for whom he does not care.
Your first hint that something has taken a turn for the weird and sinister is when the author describes the boy’s affection for the ferret turning into a religion. He names the animal “Sredni Vashtar”, a name that just comes to him, and prays that it will ...more
Your first hint that something has taken a turn for the weird and sinister is when the author describes the boy’s affection for the ferret turning into a religion. He names the animal “Sredni Vashtar”, a name that just comes to him, and prays that it will ...more
If you like this story, you’ve got to read Lawrence’s “The Last Laugh”
Ps Reading it for my presentation—at each and every reading I see a (new?) element that makes me go wow.
Mille merci for this mind blowing short story, Saki, you’ve given us a lot of food for thought.
Ps Reading it for my presentation—at each and every reading I see a (new?) element that makes me go wow.
Mille merci for this mind blowing short story, Saki, you’ve given us a lot of food for thought.
A disturbing tale of a sickly 10-year-old child, who is verbally abused almost daily by his guardian and in his rich imaginations he decides to invent a new god based on the caged polecat-ferret which was kept caged in the garden.
And then began his regular chants to Sredni Vashtar, his polecat god to take revenge against his tormentors, until one evening while he is slowly spreading butter on his toast, his vengeful dream comes true!
My Rating - 4.5/5
And then began his regular chants to Sredni Vashtar, his polecat god to take revenge against his tormentors, until one evening while he is slowly spreading butter on his toast, his vengeful dream comes true!
My Rating - 4.5/5
The god has been constantly petitioned, but has the god truly spoken?...
What, Vashta Nerada?
That was my initial thought while starting this story. Saki is very very efficient with words, using the right amount to amaze and unsettle readers. Leaving open interpretations and Lovecraftian vibes in a nonchalant little boy's simulated reality. Oh, and that ironic last line.
I highly suspect Bradbury of borrowing "Cup of Tea" for his Veldt from here.
That was my initial thought while starting this story. Saki is very very efficient with words, using the right amount to amaze and unsettle readers. Leaving open interpretations and Lovecraftian vibes in a nonchalant little boy's simulated reality. Oh, and that ironic last line.
I highly suspect Bradbury of borrowing "Cup of Tea" for his Veldt from here.
Every few years, I have to re-read Saki's short stories. Utterly wicked, completely brilliant. This particular one is a favorite, in which a wicked aunt gets her just desserts.
I read this in school as part of my curriculum and the mystery around it intrigued me to a great extent. I had forgotten about it and only recently rediscovered it after furtive amounts of searching and racking my brains. Reread it after more than ten years. Still not disappointed.
“Sredni Vashtar went forth,
His thoughts were red thoughts and his teeth were white.
His enemies called for peace, but he brought them death.
Sredni Vashtar the Beautiful.”
“Sredni Vashtar went forth,
His thoughts were red thoughts and his teeth were white.
His enemies called for peace, but he brought them death.
Sredni Vashtar the Beautiful.”
This is an excellent story, where an intelligent, but ill youngster learns what really is. He comes to worship a pole cat like an idol, but it frees him from the difficulties he has with an abusive care-taker.
I have arranged my thoughts into a haiku:
"Loss of compassion
Through worship or power trips,
Sets new rules on strength."
"Loss of compassion
Through worship or power trips,
Sets new rules on strength."
The malevolent atmosphere of this story has ranked it high for me. The outline of Saki’s story is simple, but the effectiveness of his words is brilliant; he is able to recreate an eerie scene within plain household elements.
This story is about a sickly young boy, Comradin, living with a relative, Mrs De Ropp and neither of them is much fond of the other. The boy in aversion to his cousin’s behaviour looks for a haven, an out from that oppressive domesticity and invents a new religion.
Comradin ...more
This story is about a sickly young boy, Comradin, living with a relative, Mrs De Ropp and neither of them is much fond of the other. The boy in aversion to his cousin’s behaviour looks for a haven, an out from that oppressive domesticity and invents a new religion.
Comradin ...more
This was a super short, but really impactful and memorable story. I am incredibly moved by the account of this ill and mistreated little boy. It seems to me like the whole “religion” he creates is a way to cope with his struggles in the only way he knows how. He is so deprived of joy—his illness, the harsh way he is treated, and I assume the loss of his parents, has made him despise his life. It’s terribly sad, especially because children really are this unfortunate in reality sometimes. I think
...more
"And while they debated the matter among themselves, Conradin made himself another piece of toast."
This one is _very_ short, but packs a punch! A perfect economy of words. Extremely well written, also disturbing. Made slightly more sinister by the fact that our protagonist is an unloved, oppressed, sickly child, bent on revenge.
This one is _very_ short, but packs a punch! A perfect economy of words. Extremely well written, also disturbing. Made slightly more sinister by the fact that our protagonist is an unloved, oppressed, sickly child, bent on revenge.
Really enjoyed the style and subject. Stephen Fry gave a nice introduction on a Guardian short story podcast
Dark and bloodthirsty!
Seems people either like Saki or not. I love him personally. His wit and humor are my style. This is my favorite story he wrote. Funny and chilling. Great ending.
3.5
A few pages that tell a story that reminded me very much of King’s “Carrie”. Carries quite a potential for a good Novel tbh.
A few pages that tell a story that reminded me very much of King’s “Carrie”. Carries quite a potential for a good Novel tbh.
Well written by the Master Saki. One of his best.
I read few short stories by the writer. All interesting with good plot and short :)
Suspenseful!
I love this story so much.
Small boy sequesters a hen and polecat in the potting shed of the garden belonging to the house where he lives with a tyrannical female cousin. This he worships through offerings of red berries and sprinklings of nutmeg on the ground before its cage. Eventually his guardian discovers the illicit Sredni Vashtar, the caged god, and all ends in typically macabre and horrific fashion. Wry and slyly humorous. Excellent short.
Another short.
While even calling this a novella might be stretching it, Srendi Vashtar was an inspired short that reads like the kind of thing that might have been the first of its kind. From its title, its also not what you might expect.
For something that might take you at most half an hour to read, its creepy-pasta before it was a thing and reads a much better.
While even calling this a novella might be stretching it, Srendi Vashtar was an inspired short that reads like the kind of thing that might have been the first of its kind. From its title, its also not what you might expect.
For something that might take you at most half an hour to read, its creepy-pasta before it was a thing and reads a much better.
24/100 Glimpse of Truth Short Stories
Bit different, I can see why this seems to be on school curriculums (curricula?) as a thought-provoking text.
N.B. If his reputed last words are accurate, they're easily worth an extra star in literary skill...
Bit different, I can see why this seems to be on school curriculums (curricula?) as a thought-provoking text.
N.B. If his reputed last words are accurate, they're easily worth an extra star in literary skill...
3.5 stars. Another vividly imagined story from Saki. I think he is ahead of the "Edwardian" time about telling tales of children who are sheltered but kept their imagination alive in a time of crisis.
Read this in school. The violence in the story's resolution stuck with me for quite a while later.
Fascinating story.
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Hector Hugh Munro, better known by the pen name Saki, was born in Akyab, Burma (now known as Sittwe, Myanmar), was a British writer, whose witty and sometimes macabre stories satirized Edwardian society and culture. He is considered a master of the short story and is often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy Parker. His tales feature delicately drawn characters and finely judged narratives. "The Open
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