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Selected Stories by Saki
The Masterpieces of World Fiction series brings together the best loved short stories by the great masters of the genre—from Chekov and Maupassant, Kipling and Wilde, to O. Henry and Saki and Tolstoy and Conrad. Thoughtfully compiled by the bestselling author Terry O’ Brien, this series is a great way for readers to revisit old favourites and for introducing literary masterpieces to newer, younger readers.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2014
29 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Saki
1,733 books592 followersBritish writer Hector Hugh Munro under pen name Saki published his witty and sometimes bitter short stories in collections, such as
The Chronicles of Clovis
(1911).
His sometimes macabre satirized Edwardian society and culture. People consider him a master and often compare him to William Sydney Porter and Dorothy Rothschild Parker. His tales feature delicately drawn characters and finely judged narratives. "The Open Window," perhaps his most famous, closes with the line, "Romance at short notice was her specialty," which thus entered the lexicon. Newspapers first and then several volumes published him as the custom of the time.
His works include
* a full-length play, The Watched Pot , in collaboration with Charles Maude;
* two one-act plays;
* a historical study, The Rise of the Russian Empire , the only book under his own name;
* a short novel, The Unbearable Bassington ;
* the episodic The Westminster Alice , a parliamentary parody of Alice in Wonderland ;
* and When William Came: A Story of London under the Hohenzollerns , an early alternate history.
Oscar Wilde, Lewis Carroll, and Joseph Rudyard Kipling, influenced Munro, who in turn influenced A. A. Milne, and Pelham Grenville Wodehouse.
His sometimes macabre satirized Edwardian society and culture. People consider him a master and often compare him to William Sydney Porter and Dorothy Rothschild Parker. His tales feature delicately drawn characters and finely judged narratives. "The Open Window," perhaps his most famous, closes with the line, "Romance at short notice was her specialty," which thus entered the lexicon. Newspapers first and then several volumes published him as the custom of the time.
His works include
* a full-length play, The Watched Pot , in collaboration with Charles Maude;
* two one-act plays;
* a historical study, The Rise of the Russian Empire , the only book under his own name;
* a short novel, The Unbearable Bassington ;
* the episodic The Westminster Alice , a parliamentary parody of Alice in Wonderland ;
* and When William Came: A Story of London under the Hohenzollerns , an early alternate history.
Oscar Wilde, Lewis Carroll, and Joseph Rudyard Kipling, influenced Munro, who in turn influenced A. A. Milne, and Pelham Grenville Wodehouse.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 11, 2023
These stories were fantastic! Thanks to my brother for the gift. I typically have a hard time finishing a book of short stories, because I get anxious to move on to a "real book." This one, however, is full of very short, clever, humorous stories that kept me wanting to keep reading.
Saki (Hector Hugh Munro), in a style reminiscent of Jerome K. Jerome or (in more recent time) P.G. Wodehouse, puts together some priceless sentences. Here are a few!
Now there’s absolutely nothing in that menu that harmonizes in the least with the subject of your great aunt Adelaide or her funeral. She was a charming woman, and quite as intelligent as she had any need to be, but somehow she always reminded me of an English cook’s idea of a Madras curry. (from “The Blind Spot”)
His most innocent flirtations were watched with the straining eagerness which a group of unexercised terriers concentrates on the slightest movements of a human being who may be reasonably considered likely to take them for a walk. (from “Tea”)
If you have ever had a Bishop with whom you were not on speaking terms staying in your house, you will appreciate the situation. (from “The Guests”)
Saki (Hector Hugh Munro), in a style reminiscent of Jerome K. Jerome or (in more recent time) P.G. Wodehouse, puts together some priceless sentences. Here are a few!
Now there’s absolutely nothing in that menu that harmonizes in the least with the subject of your great aunt Adelaide or her funeral. She was a charming woman, and quite as intelligent as she had any need to be, but somehow she always reminded me of an English cook’s idea of a Madras curry. (from “The Blind Spot”)
His most innocent flirtations were watched with the straining eagerness which a group of unexercised terriers concentrates on the slightest movements of a human being who may be reasonably considered likely to take them for a walk. (from “Tea”)
If you have ever had a Bishop with whom you were not on speaking terms staying in your house, you will appreciate the situation. (from “The Guests”)
September 11, 2021
A master. I am actually rationing Saki's works over the course of my lifetime so I'll always have a surprise and a masterpiece to look forward to in the future. I think if I finished all his works in one go, I'll cry in hopelessness at having no more of his works to get acquainted to. Definitely love him.
May 31, 2021
Stories by Saki are well known for his witty, surprise and at times dark ending.
July 4, 2021
Very enjoyable.
October 2, 2021
A cross between Maupassant and P.G.Wodehouse
June 20, 2023
quite an intriguing collection of short stories:)
May 24, 2025
Històries curioses.
May 6, 2024
"Start a Saki story and you will finish it. Finish one and you will start another,and having finished them all you will never forget them. They remain an addiction because they are so much more than expected."
6/10
A really enjoyable book, gentleman-esque and similar in style to Amor Towles, who surely was influenced by Saki. Good stories considering they're over 100 years old. They dragged a bit in the end, but it's still an enjoyable book with a unique style. Each story has its own turn of events in the last few paragraphs.
- Storyteller: literally, great storytelling, old school tale.
- Down Pens: again, a great short story about mundane stuff such as writing thank you letters.
- The toys of peace: funny to see how our childhood is molded by what we play and our toys. It's still a nowadays problem, and very well portayed in this 100 year old short story.
- Gabriel Ernest: really cool story about a werewolf, amazing pace and characters for just 6-7 pages.
"When love is over, how little of love even the lover understands".
6/10
A really enjoyable book, gentleman-esque and similar in style to Amor Towles, who surely was influenced by Saki. Good stories considering they're over 100 years old. They dragged a bit in the end, but it's still an enjoyable book with a unique style. Each story has its own turn of events in the last few paragraphs.
- Storyteller: literally, great storytelling, old school tale.
- Down Pens: again, a great short story about mundane stuff such as writing thank you letters.
- The toys of peace: funny to see how our childhood is molded by what we play and our toys. It's still a nowadays problem, and very well portayed in this 100 year old short story.
- Gabriel Ernest: really cool story about a werewolf, amazing pace and characters for just 6-7 pages.
"When love is over, how little of love even the lover understands".
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews