Saki: The Open Window

Saki: The Open Window

“The Open Window” is a short story by Hector Hugh Munro (Saki), published in November 1911 in The Westminster Gazette. It tells of Framton Nuttel’s visit to the Sappleton family home. Nuttel, a man who has gone to the country due to a nervous illness, is received by Mrs. Sappleton’s young niece, who, while they wait, tells him a disturbing family story. Although Nuttel is skeptical about the young woman’s story, an unexpected event will plunge him into a terrifying moment.

Saki: The Story-Teller

Saki: The Story-Teller

“The Story-Teller” is a short story by Saki (H. H. Munro), published in 1914 in the book Beasts and Super-Beasts. In a hot train carriage, a woman tries to keep her three restless nephews entertained. To do so, she tells them a moralistic story that fails miserably, causing boredom and disinterest in the children. Irritated by the commotion, a man also traveling in the car intervenes and tells them his own story: a witty and provocative tale that immediately captures the attention of his impromptu audience.