The Secret Sin of Septimus Brope

by Saki

(Saki, one of the most wickedly amusing writers of his day, was born Hector Hugh Munro in Burma, though he was educated in England. When his father retired from the Burma police they travelled widely together in Europe. In 1904 Reginald was published, his first volume of short stories, some of which are contained in this volume. This was followed by further collections and 'patriotic' sketches. He enlisted in 1914, refused a commission and was killed in France in 1916. The stories in this volume show Saki at his most acerbic, satirical and funny)

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Classics

96 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 1995

About the author

British 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.

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so delighted this story has attracted 14 reviews, on that basis it is more popular than a huge number of very fine novels I could, but won't name. It deserves every ounce of praise and should have 1,400 reviews. Why doesn't it? Who can resist a story with lines like:

'"...when I get maids with unsuitable names I call them Jane, they soon get used to it.

"An excellent plan," said the aunt of Clovis coldly; "unfortunately I have got used to being called Jane myself. It happens to be my name."'

or

"(I explained) that Florinda was the only person in the world who understood my aunt's hair. That really weighed with him, for he is not really a selfish animal..."

Maybe out of context their charm is lessened but I adore them and I hope you do sufficiently to search out this story. It is a perfect comedy of manners and class with a strong foundation in finance - and after all it was money that kept the charmed world of the likes of Clovis, his aunt, her maid and Septimus Brope perpetually in motion.

It is a gentle humour but still sharp.

[Daren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm. This was just not in my wheelhouse at all. Others seem to love this for its wittiness and subtlety finding it laugh out loud. I can happily cross this one off the list, and have no need to return to this author.

[Mohammed Abdikhader Firdhiye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book only because i had read the other classic authors i saw published in the same Penguin's 60 year birthday special series and i thought this was an Asian author.

This is one of few outright humor books i have read. 8-10 pages long stories that are subtle,very witty and laugh out-loud funny. The better stories which are more than half of them were wonderful,surprising reads. You never knew what topic the writer would joke about next. Nobody,nothing was safe. Imperialism for one and satirized almost everything in Edwardian society and culture.

Another very interesting author lost in World War I just like William Hope Hodgson.

[Adriana Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly have loved Saki since middle school, and this book did not disappoint; it’s a great small collection of some of his funniest pieces.

[ناني ماكفي · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loughed and loughed and loughed

Does mr Septimus Brope really flirt with maids?

Septimus Brope edits THE CATHEDRAL MONTHLY but as the salary isn't enough he tries to find another way for living
So he writes for several other papers poems that no man of church should write
Like
 'Lively little Lucie

     With her naughty nez retrousee'.
....

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the stories funny. The characters were easy to laugh at but still have affection for. It's odd to think that the kind of lifestyle depicted actually existed for some people, when I know it only from fiction.

[Cillian Flood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh out loud, which is an absolutely wonderful thing. I can't remember that last time I've enjoyed comedy of the written word like this. The stories are all smart, succinct and surprising. Saki has a wonderful wit and a nice imagination. I think I'll be keeping an eye out for more collections of his like this.

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable, beautifully written laugh out loud at times little book of literary joy.

[Chris Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it. Not really sure why. It's so simple, but it really takes you there.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious. Is Septimus Brope's sin that he chases after maids, or perhaps something else? Leave it to Clovis to involve himself. Audible edition narrated by Frederick Davidson.

[Sidsel Sander · Rating 4 out of 5]

En virkelig, virkelig fin lille novellesamling.

[Abbie Denyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh some good stories but some super hard/boring ones lol

[Coenraad · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy to encounter Saki again! One of his stories, 'The lumber room', was set for my matric English syllabus and I cherish it more than three decades later. Many others have become favourites, including 'Tobermory', one of the longest tales in this Penguin selection. The chaos caused by a talking cat is a priceless portrayal of the Edwardian high society in turmoil. Several other stories feature the delightful schemer Clovis. A short play is also included. It is fascinating to read this collection directly after the selection of Runyon stories: they are so similar in their precise portrayal of a very specific culture of time and place and language, although the two worlds differ significantly. Saki's ironically poised tales remind the reader of bite-sized and matured Jane Austen. A constant joy.

Saki se ironiese uitbeelding van die Edwardiaanse samelewing in Engeland is voortdurend 'n vreugde. Hy skep karakters wat die omstandighede uitbuit vir eie gewin, soos die haas gewetenlose Clovis. Sy taalgebruik herinner aan wat Jane Austen sou produseer as sy 'n eeu later kortverhale sou skryf. Die pret en plesier word ideaal verteenwoordig deur die chaos wat die pratende kat Tobermory skep. Die ooreenkomste en verskille tussen Saki en die Amerikaner Damon Runyon is opvallend - 'n verdere plesier vir storievrate.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small collection of Saki's "most acerbic, satirical and funny" short stories. I was disappointed at first, but some of the later stories were my thing. I think I'll stick to Wodehouse in future though.

The stories I enjoyed are:
The Baker's Dozen
Tobermory
The Secret Sin of Septimus Brope
The Schartz-Metterklume Method

[Rob Wiltsher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful stuff, somewhat redolent of PG Wodehouse and I really want to read more stories.

[Dheerapol · Rating 3 out of 5]

เรื่องสั้นหลายตอน อ่านแล้วงงๆนิดนึง แต่พอจับความตลกกับการเสียดสีได้อยู่