Saki's stories blend laughter and savagery with startling effect. Whimsical in their plots and lightheartedly cynical in their tone, these stories are also given a darker side by Munro's memories of his unhappy childhood with his aunts.


Saki was born Hector Hugh Munro in Akyab, Burma (now Myanmar). 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