Improper Stories

H.H. Munro (1870-1916), better known by his pen name Saki, was a British author and journalist, famous for his witty, darkly comic short stories and satirical works. Saki began his career as a journalist and gained popularity for his contributions to The Westminster Gazette and The Morning Post. Some of his notable works are - "The Open Window" (1914) that features a man tricked by a young girl in a twist of irony, "The Interlopers" (1919) portrays two feuding men trapped by nature, and "The Unbearable Bassington" (1912) satirizes a charming yet irresponsible aristocrat. Saki's works often feature themes of social class, the absurdity of societal conventions, and the consequences of indulgence or selfishness. His characters are typically witty and full of charm but reveal a lack of deeper morality or purpose. It focuses on the upper class, poking fun at their pretensions, laziness, and moral shortcomings, and challenging traditional notions of authority, propriety, and social decorum.