When William Came (eBook)

Saki, the pen name of Hector Hugh Munro, was a British writer known for his witty, mischievous, and sometimes macabre stories that satirized Edwardian society and culture. Born on December 18, 1870, in Akyab, British Burma, Munro was raised in England after the death of his mother. His education at private schools, followed by a brief period in the Burma police force, contributed to the insightful observations that color his literary work. Saki's tales feature a sharp and cruel wit, with surprise endings that reveal the author's dark sense of humor and insight into human nature. Best known for his short stories, including collections like 'The Chronicles of Clovis' and 'Beasts and Super-Beasts,' Saki's work is characterized by a blend of fantastical and sardonic elements that challenge societal norms. His novel 'When William Came: A Story of London Under the Hohenzollerns' is set in a hypothetical future where the Germans have won World War I and occupied England. The book reflects Saki's commentary on patriotism, militarism, and the uneasy pre-war tensions in Europe. Saki's legacy endures in the sharp wit and subversive tone that define his stories. His narrative style is often compared to that of O. Henry and Dorothy Parker for its conciseness and twist endings. Saki's untimely death during World War I in 1916 cut short a burgeoning literary career, but his contributions remain a pointed commentary on the mores and the duplicity of his time.