The Complete Saki (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin)

I am a prolific reader but I couldn't get into this one. Classic literature is my favorite genre and I really wanted to like this after reading all the good reviews but the characters were just insufferable and it wasn't as funny as say Jeeves and Wooster. Disappointed.

I haven't read the novels yet, but the short stories are worth reading, I can say. They are on strange topics with cynical, tongue-in-cheek humor (it's still funny), and end abruptly.The special appeal of these stories is the way he can turn a phrase. His metaphors are often quite clever, and the way he phrases things can bring unexpected enjoyment and perhaps even unexpected insight to language junkies.

I never tire of Saki/HH Munro (1870-1916). His brilliant short stories pack so much in so few pages and usually have wonderful twists or surprises. They are timeless, but take no time to devour. The joy of this collection is that, with a glance at the Table of Contents (for length), you can pretty much find a tale you will be able read in one sitting, no matter how much or little time you might have available. Each time you pick up the book, you will be amused and entertained. Favorites will most likely change as you read new stories, novelettes and plays. And there are many great bedtime stories for young and old (but read them yourself before sharing with little ones -- some may seem rather scary and/or innapropriate for them, though many others are probably fine for anyone - let each care-giver decide for themselves!). I recall "The Open Window" was my introduction to Saki, and that was in my third grade reader (so I guess I was about eight or so), and I thereafter often took out his works from the library, at least until just after college. Nearly thirty years later, I now have the complete collection to enjoy, and even those tales I had read before, still remain as fresh as ever.

I regard these stories as snapshots of the late Victorian to Edwardian period, may not be always a very crisp picture (it's fiction) but of the period, anyway, and much appreciated by me. There are days when I only have short breaks from much of the same muchness of everyday life, not long enough time to indulge in a historical novel, and Saki's short stories make the perfect read then.The stories are quite droll and amusing. Its real charm lies in the tart dialogue and wry mentality. A few stories are eccentric but I understand that to be a British trait. I love, love the language which is not at all dated but unmistakably far more elegant than what's spoken today.In case someone actually reads this review and wonders where else to find the same kind of material- amusing old short stories, not necessarily great literature- may I suggest visiting the website of Cornell MOA (Making of America) where they have old magazines like Scribner's, Punchinello,etc., that contains a wealth of short stories often set in Europe. The reading is for free. Even Saki's works needs a certain interval to be re-read with freshness.

Saki (H.H. Munro) is probably not for everyone. I've enjoyed his writing since my early teens and bought this edition as a replacement for an extremely well worn and much loved, 1958 Modern Library edition. In current parlance, Saki is witty, snarky, charming, edgy and fun. Some of his tales are pretty damned grim, but they are always smart. I've never laughed harder, or, smirked more broadly at anyone's tales of human foibles and complexities. It helps to understand some of Munro's history and to know a bit about Edwardian thought and morals, but a careful reading can bring the joy of Saki to any thoughtful reader. Favorite stories like The Unrest Cure, Esme, The Quest and Tobermory, bring as much laughter when read for the 20th time as they did at the very first. But be prepared, there is a shock or two, so like strong drink, one may want to only imbibe in a couple of stories at a sitting.

Everything arrived on time and as advertised

Saki is good, you may not like his politics, but he is good. He is anti-altruistic, through and through, as he despises do gooders as self-serving and self-martyring and having no real good in mind. The "good" lays in good food, done by a good cook. Saki, interestingly, mocks futurism (the art form of Italian fascism) and Wagnerians and Nietzschians (the not unjustly adopted composer and unjustly misconstrued philosophical guru of the Nazis). He was also anti-suffragette and one of his stories is pathetic in his denounciations of them; but he was not misogynist as he has many smart female charaters in his stories. He is a joy to read, maybe the antithesis of Charles Dickens who one could claim is way too verbose and a dreamer on the virtues of strangers (although I like Dickens), Saki is concise and holds little value in the supposed goodness of strangers. One of the books one should read in their late teens. His novels are interesting and moderately entertaining but lack a sense of completion and posssibly nimbus a show at some limit to his depth. Of his plays only the last in the book was decent.

Okay, Oscar Wilde was an exception. But looking at Saki I thought he'd be the fop of fops. Not at all so. His short stories, typically only several pages long are all unique to every other story of his and versus the field. His novels, surprisingly quick and bright, almost right for our age of 30-second mentalities. His short stories, perfect.He give great openings; I just flipped to an opening page. Yes, it was good: "In an age when it was become increasingly difficult to accomplish anything new or original, Bavton Bidderdale interested his generation by dying of a new disease." Quick, bright and paid off in the following few pages with never a boring, unoriginal platitude or easy, expected sentence.Today H.H. Monroe (aka Saki) would make a good copywriter or do okay writing for SNL. For me, he's a nice writer to read in a nightly after-bed before-sleep ritual. A safe promise to make: You'll be delighted and may even happily dance to his word plays. And you will never be not surprised. Enjoy.

A great book, if our have never read any Saki buy this it has all his different persona in it and is a very amusing take off of the upper middle classes.

Great collection of all Saki's stories. He had a unique sense of humour. Only surpassed by Roald Dahl, in my opinion.

Yeah... chortled after my old favourite, "The Open Window" which introduced Saki to me. This is a big handsome Penguin volume and will provide me with hours... years... of enjoyment

My reading enjoyment has been spoilt by missing text throughout the 16% of what i have read. I do not think i have the patience to proceed.

Only half way through this but loving every minute of it!