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The Hen
A short story
- GenresShort Stories
6 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1914
2 people want to read
About the author
Saki
1,761 books596 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
July 11, 2024
Goodreads describes this as, and I quote, 'A short story' and while absolutely accurate is somewhat reductive, like calling Falling Water 'A house'. Falling Water is more than a house and 'The Hen' while not the 'Falling Water' of short stories does deserve more than such a limited appellation. While not one of Saki's great stories it could easily warrant five stars, if written by someone else. But from the pen of the author of 'The Lumber Room' never mind the incomparable 'Sredni Vashtar' some discrimination is called for.
'The Hen' is a wonderful story because it deals with the problem of a guest who won't take a hint and go home. Most of us have never, and will never, live in a country house with the rooms to invite guests to stay, but we've all given parties where someone overstays their welcome and would have loved to have had the wit of Clovis Sangrail to solve the problem, even if it only came as l'esprit d'escalier.
A four star Saki is anyone elses five stars. Treat yourself to a perfect joy of a story.
'The Hen' is a wonderful story because it deals with the problem of a guest who won't take a hint and go home. Most of us have never, and will never, live in a country house with the rooms to invite guests to stay, but we've all given parties where someone overstays their welcome and would have loved to have had the wit of Clovis Sangrail to solve the problem, even if it only came as l'esprit d'escalier.
A four star Saki is anyone elses five stars. Treat yourself to a perfect joy of a story.
September 9, 2025
I wish I could give this 10 stars.
An incredibly humorous short story.
Incredibly well written with one of
the best plot short stories that I have ever
read.
An incredibly humorous short story.
Incredibly well written with one of
the best plot short stories that I have ever
read.
October 5, 2025
4.25⭐
Mrs. Sangrail is hosting Jane Martlet, a guest known for overstaying her welcome. Clovis, her mischievous son, is concerned because Dora Bittholz, another guest, is due to arrive soon and Jane and Dora are bitter enemies.
The feud between Jane and Dora stems from a Bronze Leghorn hen Dora sold to Jane. Jane expected it to lay pedigree eggs, but it turned out to be barren. Their falling-out escalated through venomous letters, each accusing the other of deceit and poor character. To avoid a confrontation between the two women, Clovis concocts a story: he tells Jane that their long-serving butler, Sturridge, believes she is the ghost of Queen Anne. He implies that Sturridge is mentally unstable and might pose a threat, subtly encouraging Jane to leave early for her own safety. Jane, alarmed and unsettled, departs hastily just before Clovis learns that Dora has postponed her visit, rendering his elaborate plan unnecessary.
Mrs. Sangrail is hosting Jane Martlet, a guest known for overstaying her welcome. Clovis, her mischievous son, is concerned because Dora Bittholz, another guest, is due to arrive soon and Jane and Dora are bitter enemies.
The feud between Jane and Dora stems from a Bronze Leghorn hen Dora sold to Jane. Jane expected it to lay pedigree eggs, but it turned out to be barren. Their falling-out escalated through venomous letters, each accusing the other of deceit and poor character. To avoid a confrontation between the two women, Clovis concocts a story: he tells Jane that their long-serving butler, Sturridge, believes she is the ghost of Queen Anne. He implies that Sturridge is mentally unstable and might pose a threat, subtly encouraging Jane to leave early for her own safety. Jane, alarmed and unsettled, departs hastily just before Clovis learns that Dora has postponed her visit, rendering his elaborate plan unnecessary.
July 12, 2024
Clovis strikes again, saving the day in an improbable way, all while delighting the audience.
Servants are very useful foils; they absorb blame like sponges, while remaining ignorant of how they have been deployed: such is the wit and tact of the inimitable Clovis.
Another story story from the amusing Saki, The Hen is one of the Beasts and Super-Beasts.
Servants are very useful foils; they absorb blame like sponges, while remaining ignorant of how they have been deployed: such is the wit and tact of the inimitable Clovis.
Another story story from the amusing Saki, The Hen is one of the Beasts and Super-Beasts.
May 10, 2021
How to get a guest to depart early? Clovis always comes through in a humorous way. Audible edition narrated by Frederick Davidson.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews