The Best Of Saki [Paperback]

Saki (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Penguin; paperback / softback edition (1979)
• ISBN-10: 0330247328
• ISBN-13: 978-0330247320
• ASIN: B00295IR6S
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darkly Humorous Revenge, August 17, 2002

By 

Renee Thorpe (Karangasem, Bali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of Saki (Picador Books) (Paperback)

Picador edition has wonderful, nicely written introduction that gives marvelous details of Saki's remarkable and short life, explaining well why his stories are usually so dark, and why he liked to take aim at stuffy old bats.

Nearly all of Saki's short stories are about some character exacting revenge upon cruel or shallow members of the British upper class. His writing sometimes feels labored and overwrought, with overlong sentences or ungainly descriptions. But his consistant style, sense of justice, and biting wit are the gems to be discovered within.

The earliest stories seemed to have a lack of balance between darkness and wit, but he did find his equilibrium and most of the later tales are deliciously satisfying.

Absolutely delightful reading if you liked Robert Altman's recent film Gosford Park, or if you are fed up with stuffy, mean upper class types.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Acid humour in 1900's England, May 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Best of Saki (Everyman's Library (Paper)) (Paperback)

If P.G.Wodehouse in "literature's performing flea" of light, easy, beautifully-turned literature of the quintessentially English house party, Saki's stories are the dark side: Wodehouse with acid. "The Unrest-Cure" probably one of the finest short stories ever written in the English language. If you like your humour astringent and your use of language tight then read these stories.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilariously dark short stories, December 31, 2007

By 

David M. Giltinan (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best of Saki (Picador Books) (Paperback)

Probably the only sane response, as a writer, to Edwardian England was to skewer it mercilessly. And nobody serves up a finer kebab than Saki. These stories are clever and hilariously funny. I think part of their appeal is that, although Munro can be merciless, one always senses an underlying affection for his targets. It's also pretty clear that Saki's sympathies are with those who lack clout in the established power structure of Edwardian society (children, for example), which makes me like him all the more.

A very funny book.