Saki

Saki (December 18, 1870 - November 14, 1916) was the pen name of British author Hector Hugh Munro, whose witty and outrageous stories satirised the Edwardian social scene in macabre and cruel ways.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Saki is considered a master of the short story, often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy Parker. Saki stories are always short but memorable, with finely-drawn characters, unique and macabre situations, and perfectly-timed narratives. His story "The Open Window" may be his most famous, with a closing line ("Romance at short notice was her speciality") that has entered the lexicon of many writers. He also wrote several novels and plays.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The name Saki is often thought to be a nod to the cupbearer in the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, a poem to which he refers (disparagingly) in "Reginald on Christmas Presents" (see quote below). It may, however, be a reference to the South American monkey of the same name, "a small, long-tailed monkey from the Western Hemisphere", its nature a balance of gentle shyness with a vicious temper, featured as a central character in "The Remoulding of Groby Lington". This story is the only one of Saki's to begin with a quotation: "A man is known by the company he keeps", and turns upon the idea of humans becoming like the pets they keep.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Saki himself had a similar personality to the troublesome and mischievous monkey in this story. Moreover, he began his writing career with a full-length history of Russia in the style of Edward Gibbon, and may have viewed himself as an analogue of Gibbon, whose last name is also the name of an ape.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

December 18: December 18 is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 13 days remaining....

1870: 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar)....

1916: 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar)...