This collection of short stories and plays by H. H. Munro, known by his pen name 'Saki', was originally published in 1924. Its contents include: A Biography by his Sister, The Square Egg, Birds on the Western Front, The Gala Programme, The Achievement of the Cat, The Death Trap, The Watched Pot and others. Munro was considered the Master of the short story and this book would be an ideal addition to the collector of his works. We are republishing this book with a brand new introductory biography of the author.

The undisputed master of the short story, Saki's name is synonymous with brilliant writing that satirises Edwardian Society, and his plays were no exception. In his only full-length play, 'The Watched Pot', Trevor Bavvel, sole heir to a country estate, is in want of a wife, but must operate under the strict attention of his miserly mother Hortensia. Although wildly neglected today, Saki's plays met with widespread acclaim in his day, and he was even compared favourably with the great Oscar Wilde. This complete edition of Saki's plays – the first complete edition ever published – demonstrates the great writer's prowess as a playwright, and sparkles with the same wit as the short stories that have enchanted generations of readers.

Based on the author's dissertation (doctoral)-- Harvard University, 2012.

The short stories of Hector Hugh Munro, better known by his pen name Saki, have remained in print continuously for over a hundred years. This collection is the first of its kind to present his stories as they were originally published in newspapers and magazines, preserving their internal consistency and contemporary references lost in revisions for The Chronicles of Clovis and subsequent collected editions. A trove of annotations and carefully sourced bibliographical information illuminates the Edwardian context behind the thirteen selected stories, of which three (‘Mrs. Pendercoet’s Lost Identity’, ‘The Romance of Business’ and ‘The Optimist’) were only recently rediscovered. Saki: Original and Uncollected Stories will be essential reading for scholars interested in these textual variants of this inimitable writer’s works and their publication histories. Spanning literary genres, this collection will also appeal to a general audience of any interested readers.