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Sredni Vashtar and Other Stories
Born in Burma in 1870, Scottish writer H.H. Munro (his pseudonym is from FitzGerald's Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam) satirized the social conventions, cruelty and foolishness of the Edwardian era with a highly readable blend of flippant humor and outrageous inventiveness, often overlaid with a mood of horror.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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About the author
Saki
1,680 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 8, 2012
Hector Hugh Monroe was an author of British extraction born in Burma. He lived a life shared by many authors of the imperial period, he traveling widely, and finding work as a journalist in the wild world of the empire's influence. Like Kipling before him, he was a foreign-born man whose varied experiences lent depth and breadth to his tales.
He began writing short stories under the moniker 'Saki'--taken either from a character in the Rubiyat or a type of monkey--and became an acknowledged master of the form, tightening up the quirky, sometimes eerie style of Kipling and adding a deep wellspring of absurd humor which would in turn inspire the high farces of Wodehouse. He lived a suppressed man in an age when the 'unspeakable vice of the Greeks' was a criminal offense, and died a middle-aged soldier trying to make a difference in the trenches of The Great War.
What can a reviewer say about a perfect short story? That it must be brief enough not to be bogged down in superfluity, and it must be long enough to show a complete story arc: the set up, the conflict, and the reveal. A perfect short story quickly introduces characters who are at once recognizable yet puzzling--that strange gift which so shines in Chekhov. It revolves around a climax which is almost a punchline, but with a tinge of bittersweet pathos.
The master carver pulls from his pocket what seems a plain walnut, but in a moment, has popped it open, so that we can see inside a scene has been carved in complete detail. We bend down, our eyes devouring details, drawing us in, and just as we have been given a glimpse of this dear, miniature world, it snaps shut again, leaving us with the vivid impression of a work of utter precision, where any stroke out of place could have marred the whole thing in an instant.
Each story is an example of self-sufficiency, with everything in its place, so that a reviewer feels almost impious at the notion that he could add anything to a work so self-contained. Instead I must make something to hold it--a setting for the well-cut stone, a baize-lined box for the brass-hinged walnut--and having made a box to hold the box which holds the story, all that remains is for me to give it to you.
There's simply nothing more to add.
He began writing short stories under the moniker 'Saki'--taken either from a character in the Rubiyat or a type of monkey--and became an acknowledged master of the form, tightening up the quirky, sometimes eerie style of Kipling and adding a deep wellspring of absurd humor which would in turn inspire the high farces of Wodehouse. He lived a suppressed man in an age when the 'unspeakable vice of the Greeks' was a criminal offense, and died a middle-aged soldier trying to make a difference in the trenches of The Great War.
What can a reviewer say about a perfect short story? That it must be brief enough not to be bogged down in superfluity, and it must be long enough to show a complete story arc: the set up, the conflict, and the reveal. A perfect short story quickly introduces characters who are at once recognizable yet puzzling--that strange gift which so shines in Chekhov. It revolves around a climax which is almost a punchline, but with a tinge of bittersweet pathos.
The master carver pulls from his pocket what seems a plain walnut, but in a moment, has popped it open, so that we can see inside a scene has been carved in complete detail. We bend down, our eyes devouring details, drawing us in, and just as we have been given a glimpse of this dear, miniature world, it snaps shut again, leaving us with the vivid impression of a work of utter precision, where any stroke out of place could have marred the whole thing in an instant.
Each story is an example of self-sufficiency, with everything in its place, so that a reviewer feels almost impious at the notion that he could add anything to a work so self-contained. Instead I must make something to hold it--a setting for the well-cut stone, a baize-lined box for the brass-hinged walnut--and having made a box to hold the box which holds the story, all that remains is for me to give it to you.
There's simply nothing more to add.
August 10, 2020
Read for book club— I normally wouldn’t have picked this up; I am so glad I did. While a number of these stories didn’t connect with me for quite a few reasons, the ones that did, landed incredibly well, and I loved them. While the undercurrent of using animals and the natural world to satirize especially upper class British life runs through all these stories, there are a number of extremely affective— and genuinely creepy— horror stories. The best of which are “The Music on the Hill,” “The Three Fates,” and the “The Open Window.” I thoroughly enjoyed discovering Saki.
October 22, 2020
Such sweet stories. I love it. Love it.
June 28, 2020
Srednja zalost. Nije procitano do kraja.
December 8, 2010
Do one thing for me, Sredni Vashtar . . .
I love this story. I've been reading and returning to it over thirty years.
Recently I discovered how many short films have been inspired by this very short story -- see YouTube search. Of course, the author was quite a strange man. But he was justifiably regarded as a short fiction master.
Not all the stories are as good as Sredni Vashtar, but they all have something.
I love this story. I've been reading and returning to it over thirty years.
Recently I discovered how many short films have been inspired by this very short story -- see YouTube search. Of course, the author was quite a strange man. But he was justifiably regarded as a short fiction master.
Not all the stories are as good as Sredni Vashtar, but they all have something.
November 4, 2024
Dry and mordant, yes, as more or less universally noted. All these stories are concise, finely-worked miniatures with sharp edges, and they're entertaining for that, but their edges have become dulled- both because the milieu that's consistently depicted (upper-class Edwardian society) is now so foreign, and because, for all his caustic inclinations, Saki has more the stance of a jaded anti-humanist nihilist rather than that of a satirist of enduring power- his portraits of hypocrisy, cruelty, short-sightedness etc can be entertaining, but they cannot move. You agree with him that his subjects are idiots, laugh at the difficulties they find themselves in, and move on. (There's something of the quality here of a young person (say 10-12 or so) realizing that adults can be stupid, too, and burning with impotent resentment at this.)
November 21, 2023
I highly recommend Saki's short stories. The first story in this collection, *Tobermory,* is not typical, so if this is your intro to him, keep going. This collection is some from Beasts and Super-Beasts and some from The Chronicles of Clovis. All should be readily available on Project Gutenberg or wherever you get your out-of-copyright classics.
My brother says "I tried both WHEN WILLIAM CAME and THE UNBEARABLE BASSINGTON, but I was quickly unrecoverably bored.
•• BEST (short stories, with a few occasionally-reappearing characters)
Beasts and Super-Beasts
The Toys of Peace, and Other Papers
•• PRETTY GOOD, but MAY BE SKIPPED (short stories revolving around the indicated characters)
The Chronicles of Clovis
Reginald
Reginald in Russia, and Other Sketches
•• SKIP THESE
The Unbearable Bassington (a novel)
When William Came (a novel)
The Rise of the Russian Empire (a history)"
My brother says "I tried both WHEN WILLIAM CAME and THE UNBEARABLE BASSINGTON, but I was quickly unrecoverably bored.
•• BEST (short stories, with a few occasionally-reappearing characters)
Beasts and Super-Beasts
The Toys of Peace, and Other Papers
•• PRETTY GOOD, but MAY BE SKIPPED (short stories revolving around the indicated characters)
The Chronicles of Clovis
Reginald
Reginald in Russia, and Other Sketches
•• SKIP THESE
The Unbearable Bassington (a novel)
When William Came (a novel)
The Rise of the Russian Empire (a history)"
November 24, 2020
The language in this book is sometimes mundane and at other times a bit hard to follow, but the stories are absolutely fantastic. It took me a while to finish this, as I originally lost my copy just over halfway through. Normally when something like that happens, I just shrug it off and move on to the next book, but this one stayed in my thoughts and I eventually found myself ordering a new copy. It's full of political satire, slightings, and happenings, and it has a nice mix of humor that makes it an enjoyable read. Enjoy!
July 4, 2020
I cannot imagine anyone reading stories such as these and not cracking a smile at their devilishness and wit. Like contes cruels: Modern, fetching, clever tales are these - but a downright tragedy the author saw his last day too soon in the throes of WWI France. He would have rivaled Wilde.
January 16, 2019
Short quirky stories and some are quite disturbing - just how I them!
September 7, 2023
Just read Sredni Vashtar, was cool...Mrs De Ropp deserved what was coming!
May 7, 2024
I absolutely love the short story of Sresdni Vashtar, researched the author, and found this gem. It proved to be am enjoyable read all around.
January 27, 2026
This edition has 90 pages.
April 29, 2016
The British writer, Hector Hugh Munro (Saki), is a short story master who displays exceptional intellectual ability in writing lively stories with a combination of sarcasm, unique characters, vigorously descriptive language, horror, and all types of irony. His innovative, sharply carved words reflects his witty and clever satire that hallmarks his style. Saki's short stories, especially Srendi Vashtar, The Open Window, the Lull, Tobermory, and The Storyteller, are - in my opinion - ones of the very few mischievously whimsical short stories for all ages. And although I have read some of them repeatedly, I still can feel the shocking ironies and enjoy the wryly amusing endings of his stories each time.
In Srendi Vashtar, you will reading about a very sick child, Conradin, who is raised by his cousin and guardian, Mrs De Ropp. The cousin thought that her duty is to take care of his health. She does this in a very choking way that makes the little boy hates her. He decided to rebel against his cousin and her authority. He invents a religion and prays to his "god" asking him to do only one thing for him. It is indeed a readable masterpiece about an interesting little boy, his cousin, and Srendi Vashtar!
In Srendi Vashtar, you will reading about a very sick child, Conradin, who is raised by his cousin and guardian, Mrs De Ropp. The cousin thought that her duty is to take care of his health. She does this in a very choking way that makes the little boy hates her. He decided to rebel against his cousin and her authority. He invents a religion and prays to his "god" asking him to do only one thing for him. It is indeed a readable masterpiece about an interesting little boy, his cousin, and Srendi Vashtar!
Want to read
December 22, 2009Interest was piqued by this article which asks authors which stories scare the hell out of them. The short story in question, Sredni Vashtar, is free to read here.
The story of Sredni Vashtar is oddly creepy and well worth the 5-minute read. I'll have to get hold of the rest later.
The story of Sredni Vashtar is oddly creepy and well worth the 5-minute read. I'll have to get hold of the rest later.
June 19, 2011
From BBC Radio 4:
Edwardian short stories by Saki (HH Munro) restaged in a modern-day gated community. Adapted by Sean Grundy.
Edwardian short stories by Saki (HH Munro) restaged in a modern-day gated community. Adapted by Sean Grundy.
November 15, 2011
Sredni Vashtar-a little bit crazy. A little bit disturbing. But great to analyse for English class. Enjoy.
November 17, 2011
Sredni Vashtar is probably my favorite short story ever. I can't wait until my sons are old enough to not be freaked out by it.
November 27, 2011
Saki is terrifying and gratifying - he is the master of the short story and what make him so good is often lost on modern writers. It's sort of sad sometimes...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews