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El contador de cuentos
Tres inquietos niños y su tía solterona comparten el vagón del tren con un elegante joven. En un intento por apaciguar a los niños, el joven cuenta la historia de Berta, una niña horriblemente buena. Un clásico de la literatura inglesa acompañado de maravillosas ilustraciones merecedoras del premio Bologna Ragazzi New Horizons.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1914
7 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Saki
1,671 books590 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 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 19, 2020
Thank you, Sara 💕
$.99 Kindle gem!
“The Story-Teller- *Saki* ( H. H. Munro, 1870-1916),
Best known short stories which continues to be popular with today’s reader’s”.....
“Most of the aunt’s remarks seem to begin with ‘Don’t’,
and nearly all of the children’s remarks begin with ‘Why?’”
The aunt is traveling by train with her two nieces and a nephew. The children are antsy and mischievous....
and soon annoy a bachelor who is sitting opposite.
Ha.... evidently the aunt’s reputation as a storyteller did not rank very high for the children......🤔
“The aunt began an
unexciting and shamefully
uninteresting story about a little girl who was good, and made friends with everyone because of her goodness, and was finally saved from a mad bull by several rescuers who admired her moral character”....
The children were not satisfied with the aunt’s moralistic story.
The bachelor intervenes and tells another story....
I say no more:
For $.99 you can read the rest of this short powerful story. Takes less than 30 minutes.
$.99 Kindle gem!
“The Story-Teller- *Saki* ( H. H. Munro, 1870-1916),
Best known short stories which continues to be popular with today’s reader’s”.....
“Most of the aunt’s remarks seem to begin with ‘Don’t’,
and nearly all of the children’s remarks begin with ‘Why?’”
The aunt is traveling by train with her two nieces and a nephew. The children are antsy and mischievous....
and soon annoy a bachelor who is sitting opposite.
Ha.... evidently the aunt’s reputation as a storyteller did not rank very high for the children......🤔
“The aunt began an
unexciting and shamefully
uninteresting story about a little girl who was good, and made friends with everyone because of her goodness, and was finally saved from a mad bull by several rescuers who admired her moral character”....
The children were not satisfied with the aunt’s moralistic story.
The bachelor intervenes and tells another story....
I say no more:
For $.99 you can read the rest of this short powerful story. Takes less than 30 minutes.
January 16, 2020
A bachelor in a train car is observing three small children with their aunt. Saki uses humor setting up the scene of the bored children. To keep them entertained, the bachelor tells them a story which has a surprising ending. I enjoyed Saki's humor!
January 16, 2020
Trying to imagine the person who wouldn't like Saki, but coming up blank. This is a delightful story that exhibits both his storytelling ability and his understanding of children.
January 19, 2020
This was a pretty good short story about how a bachelor became a storyteller and kept children quiet for 10 minutes in a carriage by telling a dark tale. Be sure to check this story out here: http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/...
April 5, 2018
Saki does to his readers exactly what the young storyteller in the train does with the children.
I couldn't get enough of his awesome writing!!
I couldn't get enough of his awesome writing!!
December 9, 2016
A WOMAN is travelling on a train with three children, two nieces and one nephew. The only other passenger in their carriage is a young man. The children are extremely naughty and give their aunt a hard time with their questions. She keeps saying "Don't" to everything they do. They keep asking "Why?" to everything she says.
The young man is being irritated by all this. So is the children's aunt, but there is nothing she can do about it.
Finally, she starts telling them a story so as to keep them away from mischief. However, she is no story teller and tells them one of the most boring stories. Within no time the children become disinterested. The woman knows she has been at a total loss.
The man takes it upon himself to tell the children a story about a girl called Bertha. He starts off in the same way, but quickly adds spice to the tale by adding that the girl is "horribly" good.
The children immediately become all ears. They seem to wonder: "Ah! Here's a person with a knack for storytelling."
But it is a one-hour long journey. Will the man be able to sustain the children's interest in the story? Or will he give up like the aunt and make the children return to their mischief-making?
This is the first story that I have read of Saki, and I must admit that he is a top-notch story teller.
Read and enjoy.
The young man is being irritated by all this. So is the children's aunt, but there is nothing she can do about it.
Finally, she starts telling them a story so as to keep them away from mischief. However, she is no story teller and tells them one of the most boring stories. Within no time the children become disinterested. The woman knows she has been at a total loss.
The man takes it upon himself to tell the children a story about a girl called Bertha. He starts off in the same way, but quickly adds spice to the tale by adding that the girl is "horribly" good.
The children immediately become all ears. They seem to wonder: "Ah! Here's a person with a knack for storytelling."
But it is a one-hour long journey. Will the man be able to sustain the children's interest in the story? Or will he give up like the aunt and make the children return to their mischief-making?
This is the first story that I have read of Saki, and I must admit that he is a top-notch story teller.
Read and enjoy.
January 24, 2020
You got to love Goodreads. I never heard of this author and now I will always look a little closer when I come across another of his works. A great little short story. That poor aunt.
July 31, 2019
Saki is the literary love child of Oscar Wilde and Roald Dahl. His short stories are penned not with ink, but with pure, delicious malice. This one has to be my favorite - it's inspired me to collect antique school prizes for obedience, attendance, merit, scripture knowledge, etc, and to make them into a necklace, so that I can clink like the horribly good little girl in the storyteller's tale. Spoiler: there's a wolf and it ends badly.
February 4, 2017
Had to read this for literature
January 9, 2016
Este libro y yo tenemos una muy particular historia. Lo recuerdo de cuando era niño, pero nunca me animé a leerlo. Cuando lo intentaba me daba cuenta de que había algo en las historias de Saki que no llegaba a comprender del todo, que aunque cortas y sencillas en apariencia eran más que lo que yo podía percibir con mis ojos de lector inexperto. Decidí dejarlo para algún momento más apropiado.
Muchos años después volví a encontrarlo por ahí abandonado en mi casa y comencé a leerlo, después de haber leído ya a muchos otros cuentistas y descubrir mi predilección por el relato breve.
Este volumen de cuentos (una selección muy corta, casi un bestiario) tiene algo de obra maestra, de clásico inexplorado. El humor fino y el ingenio de Saki relucen en cada uno de los textos. A pesar de la poco cuidada edición (muchas erratas) y la traducción dudosa, la brillantez de Saki desnuda las pretensiones de su tiempo y divierte como pocos libros. Todos los cuentos de Saki son joyas bien pulidas.
Agradezco el haber dejado esta lectura para este momento, y lo termino con la satisfacción del que supo dejar lo mejor para el final.
Muchos años después volví a encontrarlo por ahí abandonado en mi casa y comencé a leerlo, después de haber leído ya a muchos otros cuentistas y descubrir mi predilección por el relato breve.
Este volumen de cuentos (una selección muy corta, casi un bestiario) tiene algo de obra maestra, de clásico inexplorado. El humor fino y el ingenio de Saki relucen en cada uno de los textos. A pesar de la poco cuidada edición (muchas erratas) y la traducción dudosa, la brillantez de Saki desnuda las pretensiones de su tiempo y divierte como pocos libros. Todos los cuentos de Saki son joyas bien pulidas.
Agradezco el haber dejado esta lectura para este momento, y lo termino con la satisfacción del que supo dejar lo mejor para el final.
May 8, 2017
Siempre lo releo y siempre me deja la misma sensación de satisfacción. Mismas risas, mismas sonrisas.
Saki, en este relato corto, defiende la imaginación sobre la moraleja de un cuento, con el humor ácido, irónico, propio de él. En El narrador nos demuestra que a la literatura solo basta con disfrutarla. Genio, Saki.
June 17, 2017
Entre la causticidad del humor de Saki y esta preciosa edición de Ekaré, está difícil precisar qué me ha gustado más. El silencioso viajero de este tren ha salvado a tres aburridos niños de los tediosos y moralizantes cuentos de la tía, probando una vez más que los relatos políticamente incorrectos siempre son los más entretenidos y que un poco de cinismo y rebeldía no hacen mal a nadie.
December 23, 2021
I love Saki 💙
December 23, 2021
Smart ass storyteller
December 31, 2022
A very clever and enjoyable short story about how easy it is to entertain kids.
January 19, 2020
Fun little short story! I love Saki’s “The Open Window”. It is one of my favorites. This one would be great to read and analyze with my students. I can’t wait to add it to my list.
March 9, 2020
On a scorching afternoon, an aunt was traveling with three children, in a train. Whilst two were small girls, the other one was a small boy. They occupied one corner seat in the compartment. On the reverse side, there was a bachelor, observing them with awareness. The aunt was excessively uninteresting in dealing with the children. Nearly every one of her statements commenced with "don't" and this forced the children to ask "why" relentlessly. The aunt fell short in her efforts to satisfy the inquisitiveness of the children. The children were naturally impatient. Their curiosity regarding certain things remained unquenched. For example, Cyril wanted to know the reason behind the sheep being driven out of the field. The answer was that they were being taken to a grassier field. Then the boy asked that why the grass was good there and the aunt failed to reply him any further. The Bachelor remained silent and it seemed to the aunt that he was an uncaring man.
The aunt then being worn out, asked the children to listen to the tale of an excellent girl. The children then moved towards her with full attention. However, her reputation as a storyteller "did not rank high in their estimation.” Anyhow, she began telling the story of a little girl who was good. The girl was amiable and had the quality of being chummy with everyone because of her goodness. Hence, she was once saved from a mad bull by a host of rescuers who loved her moral character.
The story instantly evoked queries like, whether the girl would be saved by the rescuers if she were not good. The same question also came into the mind of the bachelor. The aunt replied that the rescuers would not have rushed at once to save the girl if she were not good. After this climax, the reaction was that the story was the stupidest one ever heard by the bigger of the small girls. While Cyril declared that, he did not listen after the first bit, since the story was so silly, the smaller girl made no actual comment. Suddenly the bachelor spoke out to say that the aunt did not seem to be a thriving storyteller. The aunt agreed saying that it is very difficult to satisfy children’s thirst for listening stories. The bachelor did not agree and then he was asked to tell a story to the restless children.
The bachelor proceeded saying that "once upon a time" there was a little girl called Bertha, who was astonishingly good. She obeyed blindly to her commands. She was always truthful, kept her clothes clean, ate milk pudding as though they were jam tarts, learned her lessons flawlessly, and was too cordial. Without a doubt, she was so good that she even won several medals for goodness. Those medals, as the bachelor specifies, were for obedience, punctuality and good behaviour. No other child won the three medals like her and thus, she was the talk of the town.
However, the Prince of the country, knowing her to be an extraordinarily good girl, allowed her to stroll in his park, once a week. It was an attractive park just outside the town. At that instant, the story was interrupted by a ridiculous question of Cyril. He wanted to know whether there were any sheep in the park; and the answer was no. Next it was asked to the bachelor that why the park was lacking any sheep. The bachelor replied intelligently, to inform about the ominous dream that the Prince's mother had seen. She had a vision that either her son would be killed by a sheep or else by a clock falling on him. Hence, the Prince never kept any sheep in his park and neither had he any clock in his palace. Nevertheless, there were pigs all around the park, which ate flowers. As such, there were no flowers to pick.
However, there were other delightful things in the park. For example, there were ponds with gold, blue, and green fish in them. The trees were thronged with parrots. Such a gorgeous sight naturally excited Bertha who walked up and down and enjoyed herself amidst the lap of nature. She then thought to herself that if she had not been extraordinarily good, she would not have been allowed to enter into the park. Her three medals clinked against one another as she walked and reminded her goodness.
Just then, a giant wolf came prowling into the park in search of pigs. It caught a sight of Bertha, as her pinafore was sparkling white. Even Bertha saw the wolf approaching her slowly and was terribly frightened. She thought to herself that if she were not good then her life would have been saved; for, she would not have been allowed to enter the park where a wolf was waiting to devour her. She then hid herself in one of the thickest bushes, but could not save her ultimately from the diabolic clutches of the wolf. All that was left of Bertha were her shoes, bits of clothing and the three medals for goodness.
The story had a miscellaneous response amidst the crowd. While the smaller of the small girls declared that though the story began badly, it had a rather beautiful ending, the bigger of the small girls appreciated the story. Besides, Cyril confirmed that it is the most beautiful story heard by him. As for the aunt, she condemned the story saying that it was the “most improper story to tell to young children". Hearing her comment, the bachelor replied that all that mattered was that he managed to keep the children quiet, which the aunt failed to do. He then walked down the platform of Teplecombe station feeling pity for the "unhappy woman".
The story has two stories within it. The first one told by the aunt and the second one narrated by a bachelor. Both are almost same stories, but their ending is different. While the aunt's story fails to evoke admiration, the bachelor's story has a lukewarm response among the children. The story is remarkable for its narrative technique.
The Story Teller is a story dealing with child psychology. The story presents two tales within it. The first one narrated by the Aunt, which does not go well with the children - the reason being her inability to satisfy the curiosity of the children. Moreover, her gestures and her attitude towards children are hardly praiseworthy. Most of her remarks start with "don't", which confirm her negative attitude to life. On contrary, the Bachelor is a smart man having enough intelligence and innovative power to satisfy the curiosity of the children. In addition, he is an expert in child psychology, evident from his art of story telling.
Inquisitiveness of children has to be satisfied with realism not with absurd fantasy. The two storytellers present their stories consecutively. The aunt tells the conventional story which ends with a moral teaching. The little girl in the story was good at everything. Due to her goodness, she was saved from an attack by a mad bull by many rescuers who admired her moral character. According to the aunt, moral goodness saves people from everything, even from an accident. The children do not like the story, because it is based on mere fantasy. The bachelor narrates another story of a girl named Bertha, who was good, polite, and obedient. All, including the Prince, admired her goodness. However, a cruel wolf in the park, an irrational animal, did not spare her. It devoured her to the last morsel. The story is based on reality,. The children like the story because of its realism. The whole interest in the story is based on the bachelor. so the story is given the title.
The aunt then being worn out, asked the children to listen to the tale of an excellent girl. The children then moved towards her with full attention. However, her reputation as a storyteller "did not rank high in their estimation.” Anyhow, she began telling the story of a little girl who was good. The girl was amiable and had the quality of being chummy with everyone because of her goodness. Hence, she was once saved from a mad bull by a host of rescuers who loved her moral character.
The story instantly evoked queries like, whether the girl would be saved by the rescuers if she were not good. The same question also came into the mind of the bachelor. The aunt replied that the rescuers would not have rushed at once to save the girl if she were not good. After this climax, the reaction was that the story was the stupidest one ever heard by the bigger of the small girls. While Cyril declared that, he did not listen after the first bit, since the story was so silly, the smaller girl made no actual comment. Suddenly the bachelor spoke out to say that the aunt did not seem to be a thriving storyteller. The aunt agreed saying that it is very difficult to satisfy children’s thirst for listening stories. The bachelor did not agree and then he was asked to tell a story to the restless children.
The bachelor proceeded saying that "once upon a time" there was a little girl called Bertha, who was astonishingly good. She obeyed blindly to her commands. She was always truthful, kept her clothes clean, ate milk pudding as though they were jam tarts, learned her lessons flawlessly, and was too cordial. Without a doubt, she was so good that she even won several medals for goodness. Those medals, as the bachelor specifies, were for obedience, punctuality and good behaviour. No other child won the three medals like her and thus, she was the talk of the town.
However, the Prince of the country, knowing her to be an extraordinarily good girl, allowed her to stroll in his park, once a week. It was an attractive park just outside the town. At that instant, the story was interrupted by a ridiculous question of Cyril. He wanted to know whether there were any sheep in the park; and the answer was no. Next it was asked to the bachelor that why the park was lacking any sheep. The bachelor replied intelligently, to inform about the ominous dream that the Prince's mother had seen. She had a vision that either her son would be killed by a sheep or else by a clock falling on him. Hence, the Prince never kept any sheep in his park and neither had he any clock in his palace. Nevertheless, there were pigs all around the park, which ate flowers. As such, there were no flowers to pick.
However, there were other delightful things in the park. For example, there were ponds with gold, blue, and green fish in them. The trees were thronged with parrots. Such a gorgeous sight naturally excited Bertha who walked up and down and enjoyed herself amidst the lap of nature. She then thought to herself that if she had not been extraordinarily good, she would not have been allowed to enter into the park. Her three medals clinked against one another as she walked and reminded her goodness.
Just then, a giant wolf came prowling into the park in search of pigs. It caught a sight of Bertha, as her pinafore was sparkling white. Even Bertha saw the wolf approaching her slowly and was terribly frightened. She thought to herself that if she were not good then her life would have been saved; for, she would not have been allowed to enter the park where a wolf was waiting to devour her. She then hid herself in one of the thickest bushes, but could not save her ultimately from the diabolic clutches of the wolf. All that was left of Bertha were her shoes, bits of clothing and the three medals for goodness.
The story had a miscellaneous response amidst the crowd. While the smaller of the small girls declared that though the story began badly, it had a rather beautiful ending, the bigger of the small girls appreciated the story. Besides, Cyril confirmed that it is the most beautiful story heard by him. As for the aunt, she condemned the story saying that it was the “most improper story to tell to young children". Hearing her comment, the bachelor replied that all that mattered was that he managed to keep the children quiet, which the aunt failed to do. He then walked down the platform of Teplecombe station feeling pity for the "unhappy woman".
The story has two stories within it. The first one told by the aunt and the second one narrated by a bachelor. Both are almost same stories, but their ending is different. While the aunt's story fails to evoke admiration, the bachelor's story has a lukewarm response among the children. The story is remarkable for its narrative technique.
The Story Teller is a story dealing with child psychology. The story presents two tales within it. The first one narrated by the Aunt, which does not go well with the children - the reason being her inability to satisfy the curiosity of the children. Moreover, her gestures and her attitude towards children are hardly praiseworthy. Most of her remarks start with "don't", which confirm her negative attitude to life. On contrary, the Bachelor is a smart man having enough intelligence and innovative power to satisfy the curiosity of the children. In addition, he is an expert in child psychology, evident from his art of story telling.
Inquisitiveness of children has to be satisfied with realism not with absurd fantasy. The two storytellers present their stories consecutively. The aunt tells the conventional story which ends with a moral teaching. The little girl in the story was good at everything. Due to her goodness, she was saved from an attack by a mad bull by many rescuers who admired her moral character. According to the aunt, moral goodness saves people from everything, even from an accident. The children do not like the story, because it is based on mere fantasy. The bachelor narrates another story of a girl named Bertha, who was good, polite, and obedient. All, including the Prince, admired her goodness. However, a cruel wolf in the park, an irrational animal, did not spare her. It devoured her to the last morsel. The story is based on reality,. The children like the story because of its realism. The whole interest in the story is based on the bachelor. so the story is given the title.
June 13, 2025
Ésta edición llama la atención desde el momento mismo de abrirlo, tiene un estética tan bonita y la historia es muy entretenida. Hermoso cuento de Saki, acompañado de unas ilustraciones muy llamativas de Alba Marina Rivera.
January 21, 2020
Saki's writing did to me just what it did to the children and I am quite sure the Aunt as well. It sucked you into the story eagerly waiting for the end. Very clever! I have been this Aunt with my own children, trying desperately to redirect their attention and curiosity. It never works! LOL! I have also been the bachelor wishing the Aunt could be clever enough to redirect. Children are inquisitive, that is their nature of learning. It was the same when Saki write this short and it is still true today.
August 9, 2011
Excelente edición de un cuento con mucha mala uva. Ilustrado con exquisitez y talento, sacando partido del formato apaisado. La única pega es que se acaba muy deprisa !
February 3, 2016
Learn to tell the tale.
Want to read
February 18, 2023Un conte inadequat.
February 13, 2019
Con una edición que verdaderamente parece un tren y que te causa emoción abrirlo, porque al sacarlo tiene un efecto visual como si el vagón se estuviese moviendo Ö ¡muy cool!
Es la historia de una señora de edad avanzada, mal encarada, que funge como tía de tres niños quienes no dejan de jugar y gritar (como cualquier niño). En su intento fallido de entretenerlos con el paisaje para que se queden quietos, optó por contarles un cuento -aburrido por cierto- y evidentemente su objetivo no se cumplió. Hasta que el señor que venía compartiendo lugar con ellos, sale a salvar a los niños y darle cachetada con guante blanco a la mujer.
Sí me gustó, pero me quedó debiendo un poquito más de emoción. Las ilustraciones son fantásticas sin duda alguna y el mensaje es muy claro. Es sabido ya que leer cuentos nos es nada fácil pero tampoco es cuestión de estudiar un manual de cómo hacerlo; el punto clave es que debemos hacerlo con amor y dejar que los niños tengan oportunidad de adentrarse en algo que por derecho, deben disfrutar: el mundo de las historias.
Es la historia de una señora de edad avanzada, mal encarada, que funge como tía de tres niños quienes no dejan de jugar y gritar (como cualquier niño). En su intento fallido de entretenerlos con el paisaje para que se queden quietos, optó por contarles un cuento -aburrido por cierto- y evidentemente su objetivo no se cumplió. Hasta que el señor que venía compartiendo lugar con ellos, sale a salvar a los niños y darle cachetada con guante blanco a la mujer.
Sí me gustó, pero me quedó debiendo un poquito más de emoción. Las ilustraciones son fantásticas sin duda alguna y el mensaje es muy claro. Es sabido ya que leer cuentos nos es nada fácil pero tampoco es cuestión de estudiar un manual de cómo hacerlo; el punto clave es que debemos hacerlo con amor y dejar que los niños tengan oportunidad de adentrarse en algo que por derecho, deben disfrutar: el mundo de las historias.
January 15, 2026
“A bachelor on a train tells a darkly humorous, subversive story to entertain bored children, delighting them with a tale where a “good” girl is eaten by a wolf because her medals betray her hiding spot, much to the scandal of the children’s disapproving aunt, highlighting Saki’s satire of Edwardian morality and societal expectations.”
This was an alright short story. There was nothing absolutely incredible that stuck out to me, but I also didn’t hate it.
It was cool to see Saki challenge the “status quo” by telling a kids’ story with ZERO morals or lessons whatsoever. In fact, his story probably went against every other story those kids had heard.
However, it showed that kids don’t want the same story with the same lessons over and over again. They like twists and shocking events, and yes, sometimes even violence. Most of the time, all it takes to entertain a kid is something new, different, and exciting.
Like I said before, I didn’t LOOOOOOOVE this short story, but it definitely wasn’t bad!!
This was an alright short story. There was nothing absolutely incredible that stuck out to me, but I also didn’t hate it.
It was cool to see Saki challenge the “status quo” by telling a kids’ story with ZERO morals or lessons whatsoever. In fact, his story probably went against every other story those kids had heard.
However, it showed that kids don’t want the same story with the same lessons over and over again. They like twists and shocking events, and yes, sometimes even violence. Most of the time, all it takes to entertain a kid is something new, different, and exciting.
Like I said before, I didn’t LOOOOOOOVE this short story, but it definitely wasn’t bad!!
October 29, 2019
En octubre me gusta leer algún relato mordaz y cínico de Saki de vez en cuando. Este era el tercero que tenía por casa, y parte de ellos son repetidos, pero siempre es agradable volver a ellos.
Es una selección irregular. Hay 6 o 7 magníficos, pero también un par que creo que están entre los flojillos del autor.
"El contador de historias" 4.5/5
"El buey en el establo" 4/5
"El tigre de la señora Packletide" 4/5
"El cerdo" 3.5/5
"Esmé" 5/5 (uno de mis favoritos)
"El trastero" 5/5
"El método Schartz-Metterklume" 4/5
"El soñador" 2/5, "La tregua" 2.5/5, "La tortilla bizantina" 3/5, "el día del santo" 3/5, "Las águilas ratoneras protegidas" 3/5 y "Una tarea de vacaciones" 2.5/5 me han parecido algo menores en comparación.
En general, sigo creyendo que "Cuentos de humor y de horror" de Anagrama fue mejor recopilatorio, aunque es difícil tener algo realmente completo con solo un libro que no sea "Cuentos completos". Pero es difícil no disfrutar leyendo a Saki.
Es una selección irregular. Hay 6 o 7 magníficos, pero también un par que creo que están entre los flojillos del autor.
"El contador de historias" 4.5/5
"El buey en el establo" 4/5
"El tigre de la señora Packletide" 4/5
"El cerdo" 3.5/5
"Esmé" 5/5 (uno de mis favoritos)
"El trastero" 5/5
"El método Schartz-Metterklume" 4/5
"El soñador" 2/5, "La tregua" 2.5/5, "La tortilla bizantina" 3/5, "el día del santo" 3/5, "Las águilas ratoneras protegidas" 3/5 y "Una tarea de vacaciones" 2.5/5 me han parecido algo menores en comparación.
En general, sigo creyendo que "Cuentos de humor y de horror" de Anagrama fue mejor recopilatorio, aunque es difícil tener algo realmente completo con solo un libro que no sea "Cuentos completos". Pero es difícil no disfrutar leyendo a Saki.
September 17, 2021
I feel like Saki’s stories, this one in particular, are the equivalent of realism paintings. They depict mundane, commonplace things yet in their presentation as a short story, reveals all the things that go on inside every normal interaction. It’s like he saw this interaction play out and just wrote it down. There is nothing particularly engaging about this story and I expected much better, having read several Saki stories in the past. Maybe people love it because it was so long ago and it’s a little snapshot of what life was like back then. While it was a nice little story about two unruly children and an uptight aunt, I didn't find anything special about it and don't believe it is deserving of being called one of Saki's best works.
November 14, 2020
The short story "The Storyteller'' is written by English writer Saki (Munro). Adults often describe to children an ideal, not a realistic picture of the world. As the author says in the story, most adults begin the dialogue with children with the phrase “Don't,” and nearly all of the children's remarks begin with “Why?”.
It’s a funny story, a little controversial, which gives a subject for discussion.
Here is the link to the text:
https://www.classicshorts.com/stories...
It’s a funny story, a little controversial, which gives a subject for discussion.
Here is the link to the text:
https://www.classicshorts.com/stories...
September 8, 2018
Lo compre como un cuento clasico para leer a mis hijas, pero nos quedamos con una sensación de cuento extranio. Quizas es para edades mayores. La edición y dibujos son muy lindos.
January 15, 2021
A cautionary tale but not by Hillaire Belloc. A story within a story about the possible pitfalls of being too well behaved. Saki's short stories are well worth looking up.
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