Sredni Vashtar and Other StoriesBorn in Burma in 1870, Scottish writer H. H. Munro adopted the pseudonym Saki to satirize the social conventions, cruelty, and foolishness of the Edwardian era. His highly readable blend of flippant humor and outrageous inventiveness is often overlaid with a mood of horror. After Munro's untimely death in action during World War I, Christopher Morley wrote: "the empty glass we turn down for him is the fragile, hollow-stemmed goblet meant for the finest champagne; it is of the driest." Readers can sample Munro's special brand of well-plotted satiric fiction in this inexpensive collection of his best tales. In addition to the title story, selections include "Tobermory," "Laura," "The Open Window," and "The Schartz-Metterklume Method." With its biting wit and vein of cruelty, Munro's work has sometimes been compared to early Evelyn Waugh; admirers of Waugh and other discerning readers are sure to savor this stimulating taste of vintage Saki. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Adela Pingsford afternoon agen animal Appin Arlington aunt beast Bilsiter Bishop borzoi Bristol Channel clever Clovis Clovis Sangrail Colonel Hampton Conradin corner Cornett course Cousin Teresa dinner dogs dogs on wheels door Dulverton Easter egg Eastertide Egbert Eleanor Emma Eshley exclaimed eyes farm Framton frog gamecock gave gooseberry garden Groby Lington Groby's Harrowcluff Houdan hounds house-party human J. P. Huddle kitchen knew Ladbruk Lady Barbara Lady Blemley Lady Carlotta Latimer Laura lawn Leonard lesser whitethroats Lester looked Lord Pabham lozenges Lulu maid matter Mavis mind Miss Hope monkey morning-room Mortimer never Nicholas niece night once otter Quabarl Resker Ropp round Sappleton scarcely scream seemed shrubbery Sir Lulworth Sir Wilfrid Sredni Vashtar stag Stoner stood Stringham suddenly suppose Sylvia thing tion Tobermory turned Unrest-cure Vasco voice waiting watched window wolf woman wonderful Yessney young