Short Stories by Saki (Stephen Fry Presents)

By: Hector Hugh Munro

Narrated by: Stephen Fry

Immerse yourself in a world where the wonderful Stephen Fry reads some of the more memorable short stories of our time. A brilliant combination of reader and writer come together in these seven short stories available on digital download only.

Stephen writes “Saki remains, from a distance of a hundred years, just about the sharpest, cruellest, funniest and most elegant short story writer in our language. Hector Hugh Monro, to give him his real name, was an English writer and journalist whose life was cut short by the Great War. His stories often oppose nature and civilisation, with the more macabre elements of nature usually rising to victory. My favourite of his stories is Sredni Vashtar, as perfect a symbolic tale of the power of adolescence as is imaginable. The triumph of imagination, sexuality and life over the repressive forces of conventionality has never been more perfectly or shockingly expressed. The excellence of Tobermory, the talking cat, of The unrest Cure and the Open Window all reveal that unique blend of Wodehousian social comedy with wicked cruelty.
Saki is like a perfect martini but with absinthe stirred in…heady, delicious and dangerous. Enjoy” Stephen Fry 2009

©2009 SamFry Limited; (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

“Stephen’s voice is so full of character and emotion that he brings these stories to life. And, obviously, they are read by a Great Britain (meant in every sense of the word), so Wilde’s stories are brought back where they belong and have been acceptedwith open arms”

“No one else could bring these stories to life like Stephen Fry. truly wonderful”

Fry is the Perfect Reader for Saki

There are five stories in this collection: the delightful and subtle Mrs. Packletide's Tiger; the very dark Sredni Vashtar -- be warned;The Peace of Mowsle Barton; the radical and in these days non-PC story The Unrest-Cure, which is, however, extremely funny once you stop gasping with shock; and Tobermory, a story of a cat that learns to talk, causing immediate consternation among the house-party of guests near whose bedroom windows he has been walking freely.

Stephen Fry's reading is of course perfect: it was obvious on sight of the offering that he would be a wonderful Saki reader, as the wry, sophisticated, ironic tone is common to both Saki and Fry. I wish Stephen Fry would do more recordings of dedicated Saki collections.

something to laugh about

witty and funny stories in best traditions of early 20th century anglo-american literature conveyed accordingly by his greatness Fry

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014)

Great delivery by Stephen - I wouldn't have enjoyed without it. Looking forward to hearing another series

Quirky Edwardian tales

Short stories set in Edwardian England. Interesting yet told from a perspective designed to poke at the mores of the time. The characters do the oddest things at times. Think Jeeves and Wooster but without the inherent niceness.

Delightful stories delightfully told.

This is a great selection of Saki's stories. Mr. Fry's delivery is just right for them.