“With the voices of Frederick Davidson and Nadia May reading alternating stories, these brief tongue-in-cheek portraits of English society (or more often its pretenders) contrasted with a life near the jungle create the equivalent of pleasant, easy-listening music…There’s no story that isn’t enjoyable, no humor that doesn't have its dark side…Recommended, in small doses, for fans of James Thurber and Rudyard Kipling. Library Journal
Description
Hector Monro, writing under the pseudonym of Saki, is justly renowned for his urbane and witty short stories. His eccentric characters, humorous dialogue, and engaging domestic situations all reveal a penetrating and sometimes disturbing insight into human nature. As a quixotic tour guide, Saki leads the reader from garden party to pig sty to political convention with the ease of one who is intimately familiar with the cares and foibles of the human condition, showing us this vista of life through the well-tempered lens of his gentle, British irony.
In this definitive collection of seventy short stories, we can browse and sightsee at our leisure, cross borders of fresh insight, admire and enjoy each whimsical tale as we journey through the imaginative landscape of a truly artful writer.
Praise
“With the voices of Frederick Davidson and Nadia May reading alternating stories, these brief tongue-in-cheek portraits of English society (or more often its pretenders) contrasted with a life near the jungle create the equivalent of pleasant, easy-listening music…There’s no story that isn’t enjoyable, no humor that doesn't have its dark side…Recommended, in small doses, for fans of James Thurber and Rudyard Kipling. Library Journal
“Under the pen name Saki, Hector Hugh Munro wrote two kinds of stories, prankish humor about the British leisure class and chilling horror, a la the sardonic Ambrose Bierce. Through these the mellifluous Davidson and May romp in merry pointlessness. They strike the right tongue-in-cheek tone.” AudioFile
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Dec 31, 1995 |
| Release Date | January 1, 1996 |
| Release Date Machine | 820454400 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Literature & Fiction, Classics, Anthologies & Short Stories, Literature & Fiction, Classics, Evergreen Classics, Evergreen Classics, Literature & Fiction, Classics, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult |
Author Bio
Saki was the pen name of the British writer Hector Hugh Munro (1870–1916). In addition to his short stories, of which he was an acknowledged master, he also wrote 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; a short novel, The Unbearable Bassington; a parody of Alice in Wonderland, The Westminster Alice; and a fantasy about England under German occupation, When William Came.
Narrator Bio
Frederick Davidson (1932–2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFile’s Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.
Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.
Overview
Hector Monro, writing under the pseudonym of Saki, is justly renowned for his urbane and witty short stories. His eccentric characters, humorous dialogue, and engaging domestic situations all reveal a penetrating and sometimes disturbing insight into human nature. As a quixotic tour guide, Saki leads the reader from garden party to pig sty to political convention with the ease of one who is intimately familiar with the cares and foibles of the human condition, showing us this vista of life through the well-tempered lens of his gentle, British irony.
In this definitive collection of seventy short stories, we can browse and sightsee at our leisure, cross borders of fresh insight, admire and enjoy each whimsical tale as we journey through the imaginative landscape of a truly artful writer.
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