Reginald in Russia, and Other Sketches: A Satirical Collection of Edwardian Era Sketches
Saki
Nov 2019 · Good Press
Ebook
150
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About this ebook
In "Reginald in Russia, and Other Sketches," Saki exhibits his trademark wit and sharp social commentary through a series of humorous and incisive vignettes centered around the Englishman Reginald's encounters in Russia. Saki's style is characterized by playful language, irony, and a keen observation of human behavior, set against a backdrop that juxtaposes the idiosyncrasies of British culture with the mystique of Russian society. This collection situates itself within the context of early 20th-century literature, as it explores themes of imperialism, identity, and the absurdities of social conventions. H.H. Munro, known by his pen name Saki, was heavily influenced by his experiences growing up in British colonial Burma and later in England. His life experiences, marked by a keen sense of observation and a disdain for societal norms, undoubtedly shaped the perspectives present in his writing. Saki's humor often reflects his critique of Edwardian society and its follies, making his work both entertaining and thought-provoking. "Reginald in Russia, and Other Sketches" is a compelling read for those who appreciate clever, satirical humor that invites deeper reflection on the human condition. It is a delightful exploration of cultural contrasts that will resonate with readers seeking both amusement and insight.
About the author
H. H. Munro, better known as "Saki," was born in Burma, the son of an inspector-general for the Burmese police. Sent to England to be educated at the Bedford Grammar School, he returned to Burma in 1893 and joined the police force there. In 1896, he returned again to England and began writing first for The Westminster Gazette and then as a foreign correspondent for The Morning Post. Best known for his wry and amusing stories, Saki depicts a world of drawing rooms, garden parties, and exclusive club rooms. His short stories at their best are extraordinarily compact and cameolike, wicked and witty, with a careless cruelty and a powerful vein of supernatural fantasy. They deal, in general, with the same group of upper-class Britishers, whose frivolous lives are sometimes complicated by animals---the talking cat who reveals their treacheries in love, the pet ferret who is evil incarnate. The nom de plume "Saki" was borrowed from the cupbearer in Omar Khayyam's (see Vol. 2) The Rubaiyat. Munro used it for political sketches contributed to the Westminster Gazette as early as 1896, later collected as Alice in Westminster. The stories and novels were published between that time and the outbreak of World War I, when he enlisted as a private, scorning a commission. He died of wounds from a sniper's bullet while in a shell hole near Beaumont-Hamel. One of his characters summed up Saki's stories as those that "are true enough to be interesting and not true enough to be tiresome."
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