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The Saki Megapack: 140 Classic Novels and Short Stories
The Saki Megapack assembles no less than 140 works by H.H. Munro, who also wrote under the name "Saki." Munro influenced such later talents as P.G. Wodehouse. Included in this volume are both of Munro's novels, THE UNBEARABLE BASINGTON and WHEN WILLIAM CAME, plus the short story collections THE CHRONICLES OF CLOVIS, THE TOYS OF PEACE, REGINALD, REGINALD IN RUSSIA, and BEASTS AND SUPERBEASTS. In addition, 5 rare stories are also added, "Clovis on the Alleged Romance of Business," "The Comments of Moung Ka," "The Gala Programme," "The Infernal Parliament," and "The Square Egg."
777 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2013
42 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Saki
1,672 books591 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 20, 2019
Humour, satire, the macabre and mischievous, adventure, suspense - all for 99¢
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Publication date: June 15, 2013
Publisher: Wildside Press
Language: English
ASIN: B00DF2MTOK
839 pages
Saki is the pen name of Hector Hugh Munro usually known as H. H. Munro. This British master of the short story is often compared to that American short story master, O. Henry. Both are well worth your time. I think Saki's stories are usually a bit more quirky than are O. Henry's. The stories in this incredible 99¢ bargin run the gamut from humour to serious, but mischievous, explorations of the human condition. Satire, humour, the macabre, suspense, adventure, wry observations of life, all are represented here as is Saki's penchant for using strange, sometimes ridiculous, names for his characters.
This volume includes two of Saki's best and best known stories: The Open Window, an interesting take on the ghost story which demonstrates Kipling's influence on Saki, and The Schartz - Meterklume Method in which a household and education are turned on their heads and which demonstrates Saki's influence on P. G. Wodehouse.
I noted some reviews which called Saki's writing dated. This complaint seems to be fairly common concerning older works. Saki did write in the early 1900's (he was killed in WW1) but I subscribe to the Christian point of view that times and technology change but people, essential human nature, does not. The basic hopes and fears of the people of 1900 were the same as those of people today. Saki's observations of people and life are still valid and will continue to be valid. There are some few words and terms used in the stories which are not in common usage today. I read for both entertainment and education so I enjoy learning the occasional word and phrase which I do not recognize. If you don't enjoy looking them up, the writing still works because most can be at least generally understood from context. For instance in the story I just read, Saki makes reference to apple Charlotte, it is plain from context that he is referring to food, probably a dessert. There is no difficulty at all in understanding Saki. 1900 or 2000, he is still one of the most entertaining and enlightening authors of short fiction.
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Publication date: June 15, 2013
Publisher: Wildside Press
Language: English
ASIN: B00DF2MTOK
839 pages
Saki is the pen name of Hector Hugh Munro usually known as H. H. Munro. This British master of the short story is often compared to that American short story master, O. Henry. Both are well worth your time. I think Saki's stories are usually a bit more quirky than are O. Henry's. The stories in this incredible 99¢ bargin run the gamut from humour to serious, but mischievous, explorations of the human condition. Satire, humour, the macabre, suspense, adventure, wry observations of life, all are represented here as is Saki's penchant for using strange, sometimes ridiculous, names for his characters.
This volume includes two of Saki's best and best known stories: The Open Window, an interesting take on the ghost story which demonstrates Kipling's influence on Saki, and The Schartz - Meterklume Method in which a household and education are turned on their heads and which demonstrates Saki's influence on P. G. Wodehouse.
I noted some reviews which called Saki's writing dated. This complaint seems to be fairly common concerning older works. Saki did write in the early 1900's (he was killed in WW1) but I subscribe to the Christian point of view that times and technology change but people, essential human nature, does not. The basic hopes and fears of the people of 1900 were the same as those of people today. Saki's observations of people and life are still valid and will continue to be valid. There are some few words and terms used in the stories which are not in common usage today. I read for both entertainment and education so I enjoy learning the occasional word and phrase which I do not recognize. If you don't enjoy looking them up, the writing still works because most can be at least generally understood from context. For instance in the story I just read, Saki makes reference to apple Charlotte, it is plain from context that he is referring to food, probably a dessert. There is no difficulty at all in understanding Saki. 1900 or 2000, he is still one of the most entertaining and enlightening authors of short fiction.
April 11, 2018
I actually haven't finished this yet (it's HUGE), but plan to dip into it from time to time. The Clovis Sangrail stories are my favorite. The Easter Egg was sad and disturbing, but beautifully written, as are all of Saki's stories. Looking forward to reading more soon.
August 24, 2019
Saki can devastate with a mere turn of phrase. The collected stories are filled with sharp observations, wit, and memorable characters with names like Mrs. Packletide, Filboid Studge, and Crispina Umberleigh.
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February 9, 2025While I can't recommend reading all of this extensive collection, there are a few gems. These short stories reminded me a lot of P.G. Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster and Jeeves stories, although I believe Saki (H.H. Munro) came earlier. Anyway, do yourself a favor and read "The Open Window"; it will only take about 5 minutes. I am including a link to a pdf of that story, which is readily available online since it is in the public domain. https://pirateeducation.weebly.com/up...
May 17, 2018
I actually don't know if I finish this book or not since I jumped pages. I skipped "When William Came" because the central theme of Germany winning the war is too distressing for me to swallow. I just skimmed through the index and can't find another entry that I haven't read. I should have steered away from the bad habit of jumping around pages and starting a book for some pages only to drop it to be picked up in a later date. But old habits die hard. Now I have about fifty books in "currently reading" status, each in various degree of unfinished status. I like everything Saki wrote and my love for his writing even extends to those laughable characters he created for us--"The Unbearable Bassington" for example.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews