Tobermory and Other Stories

by Saki

Saki's stories include the satiric, the comic, the macabre, and show a marked interest in the use of animals as agents of revenge upon mankind.

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1974

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

[Polina Sidorenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such pseudonym allures you with promises of encountering something alien and unique. Saki's stories are framed in an ornate language pleasing to savour, and the stories themselves contain horror and mockery you wouldn't expect from a 19-century British chap.

[pierlapo quimby · Rating 4 out of 5]

«Che ne pensi dell’intelligenza umana?» domandò con poca convinzione Mavis Pellington.
«Dell’intelligenza di chi, in particolare?» domandò con freddezza Tobermory.
«Oh, be’, per esempio la mia», disse Mavis, con una debole risata.
«Mi mette in una situazione difficile», disse Tobermory, il cui tono e atteggiamento non suggerivano di certo uno straccio d’imbarazzo. «Quando si suggerì di includerla nell’invito, Sir Wilfrid protestò che lei era la donna più senza cervello di sua conoscenza, e che c’era un’ampia differenza tra l’ospitalità e la cura degli oligofrenici. Lady Blemley replicò che la mancanza d’intelligenza era l’esatta qualità che le aveva fatto ottenere il suo invito, dato che era l’unica persona che credeva idiota a sufficienza da comprare la loro vecchia auto. Sa, quella che chiamano “l’invidia di Sisifo”, perché va piuttosto bene sulle salite se la spingete.»
Le proteste di Lady Blemley avrebbero avuto maggior effetto, se solo quella mattina non avesse casualmente suggerito a Mavis che l’auto in questione era proprio la cosa giusta per lei giù a casa sua nel Devonshire.
Il maggiore Barfield scese poderosamente in campo per effettuare una diversione.
«E che ci racconti delle tue avventurette con la gattina soriana giù alle scuderie, eh?»
Nell’attimo stesso in cui lo diceva tutti quanti si resero conto dello svarione.
«Di solito uno non discute di queste faccende in pubblico», disse con freddezza Tobermory. «Da una superficiale osservazione dei suoi costumi, da quando si trova in questa casa, dovrei supporre che troverebbe la cosa imbarazzante se si dovesse spostare la conversazione sui suoi personali amorazzi.»
Il panico che si diffuse non restò confinato al solo maggiore.
«Ti andrebbe di andare in cucina a vedere se la cuoca ti ha già preparato la cena?» suggerì precipitosamente Lady Blemley, simulando di ignorare il fatto che mancavano almeno due ore all’orario di cena di Tobermory.
«Grazie,» disse Tobermory, «non proprio subito dopo il mio tè. Non voglio morire d’indigestione.»
«I gatti hanno nove vite, sai», disse con cordialità Sir Wilfrid.
«Può darsi,» rispose Tobermory, «ma un fegato solo.»
«Adelaide!» disse Mrs Cornett, «intendi incoraggiare quel gatto ad andare a spettegolare sul nostro conto nella stanza della servitù?»

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Millstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories drawn from four previous collections first published between 1900 and 1920 which are consistent in length and humorous quality. All well structured with an element of surprise. I'm hopeful the ones which didn't make this edit are almost as good and I'll bump into them at some point.

[Hari Brandl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eclectic assortment of short works, some reminiscent of O Henry. There is fiction, essays, humor, drolery , tongue-in-cheek pieces, more. A nice, formal diction. The ones about cats are best, of course.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially Vera.

[Julian Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Varied collection of short stories. The best are fabulous. The weaker ones are fine. The humour flitters between dark, snarky, gentle, surreal and mundane. Wonderful character portraits.

[Trish Graboske · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read many of these stories a long time ago, but I found that I hadn't forgotten them! They are vivid, often dark, and the endings can pack quite a punch. Very well-written.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of slightly morbid fun

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book but a very fun read. I seldom go through a whole book of short stories without stopping, but I did in this case. Some are funny, some give serious insights, all are quirky. Recommended.

[Angela]

Even with a newborn in the house, I'm trying to keep reading. So, if I start a book, and it seems interesting, but not something I should be wasting precious reading time on, I put it on hold, and move on. That's what happened here - a few interesting stories, but I just need to be more discerning. Eventually, I will finish it. Eventually.

[Anita George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories were more successful than others, hence the 3.5 stars. A few of these stories would rate much higher, but one or two might come lower.

[Dr. Jeffrey H. Schnitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lesser Saki with a few brilliant gems.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intersting tale by Saki.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise! At the end of every story Saki manages to leave you with this feeling.