A Selection from 'Saki' | H. H. Munro | A Bitesized Audio Production
66,119
Published 2022-08-03
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:04 The Open Window
00:10:14 The Lumber Room
00:25:40 The Hounds of Fate
00:45:32 Tobermory
01:06:03 The Story-Teller
01:19:53 Sredni Vashtar
01:34:03 The Music on the Hill
01:50:49 Credits and thanks
(Story teasers and more details below)
Narrated/performed by Simon Stanhope, aka Bitesized Audio. If you enjoy this content and would like to help me keep creating, there are a few ways you can support me:
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Saki was the pen name of Hector Hugh Munro, one of the greatest masters of the short story form in English. He was born in 1870 in Burma, then part of British India, where his father was an Inspector General for the Imperial Police, but his life was affected by tragedy when he was just two years old: his mother Mary Munro was charged by a cow while visiting family back in England, and she died as a result of her injuries. Hector and his siblings were sent home to England, to live in Devon with his paternal grandmother and two maiden aunts. The aunts (Augusta and Charlotte) were apparently strict and austere and provided much material for future character studies in Saki's stories, notably ‘The Lumber Room’ and ‘Sredni Vashtar’, which both feature in this compilation. Hector eventually "escaped" to boarding school.
In his early 20s he followed his father's footsteps and enrolled in the Indian Imperial Police, but was invalided home with fever after little over a year. Turning to writing to make his living, Munro began working as a journalist in the late 1890s. He wrote countless pieces for magazine and newspaper publication, and took up the pen name Saki around 1900. His always witty – and sometimes macabre – stories established his reputation as one of the greatest satirists of the Edwardian era.
Despite being officially over-age for military service, turning 44 at the end of 1914, he enlisted in World War I, turning down the offer of a commission and serving as an ordinary trooper in the 2nd King Edward’s Horse regiment. Tragically, he was killed by a sniper while sheltering in a shell hole during the Battle of the Ancre in November 1916. His last words were reported to be “Put that bloody cigarette out”. His resting place is unknown.
The Open Window | 00:01:02
Framton Nuttell, a nervous and neurotic young man on a rest-cure in the country, visits his neighbour Mrs. Sappleton. Her 15 year old niece, Vera, entertains him by explaining the sinister reason that the French windows are kept open every night...
The Lumber Room | 00:10:14
As punishment for bad behaviour at the breakfast table, Nicholas is excluded from a family outing as well as forbidden from playing in the gooseberry garden. But he soon manages to turn the situation to his advantage, allowing him to explore a hitherto forbidden room at the top of the house...
The Hounds of Fate | 00:25:37
Martin Stoner is homeless, penniless and reaching the end of his tether, when Fate does him an unexpected good turn and he finds refuge under extraordinary circumstances. But have the Hounds of Fate truly relented, or are they simply biding their time?
Tobermory | 00:45:32
Lady Blemley has invited clever Mr. Cornelius Appin to join her weekend party in the hope that he might contribute towards the entertainment. She finds he delivers rather more than she bargained for...
The Story-Teller | 01:06:03
A long train journey on a hot day is not an ideal environment for bored children. Luckily one of their fellow passengers, a stranger, knows how to keep them entertained...
Sredni Vashtar | 01:19:51
Sickly 10-year old Conradin lives under the "care" of his older cousin and guardian, Mrs De Ropp, his only escape a vivid imagination which transforms a neglected garden shed into a cathedral in which he worships at the shrine of a polecat-ferret...
The Music on the Hill | 01:34:01
Despite her name, Sylvia doesn't know or understand the countryside. She only knows she'd like to live there. But when she and her husband Mortimer go to live at Yessney, her satisfaction at "settling him down" doesn't last long...
Recordings © Bitesized Audio 2020–22
All Comments (21)
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The genius of Saki merged with narrative talents of Simon. It doesn't get better than this.
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This collection proves that Simon is not the narrator we deserve, but the narrator we need.
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The Open Window is one of my favorites. Thanks!
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I listened to all the stories by Saki on your channel and couldn't get enough. I went to some other places on the Internet but I really couldn't get into their reading and decided I would have to wait until you decided to do some more Saki. I take this as a good omen that the rest of my 2022 will go exactly as I hope! Cheers from Jamaica!
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You receive the Victoria Cross for doing this, I ADORE YOU :) wonderful!!!!
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I've always loved his macabre and humorous stories. Thank you so much for this terrific narration of a Saki smorgasbord!
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Poor Tobermory! Deserved better - would have loved to have heard that he and the Stable Puss had escaped and were sending brutally honest pieces of information to a variety of newspapers :D
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Saki's gift is that one pleasing word he injects into every sentence.
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Excellent rendition of old favourites , soothing like a beloved blanket. ❤️ Thank you for this effort. Love it. From India.
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For some reason, I always think Saki is the run-up to Christmas listening no matter what the subject. I think it's because I first listened to a Saki story during this period and it's kind of lodged that way in my thoughts.
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I am very pleased to see such a giant bunch of Saki, whose only weakness, is that stories must end.
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I LOVE Saki. His stories are blunt, hilarious, and just plain entertaining.
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1hr 50mins worth from the maestro. Quantity and quality - the perfect combo. ❤
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Wow. What a great collection of stories. Wonderful work Simon. Shame the author only lived until 44. I believe World War one was when they realized if you lit three cigarettes off one match, it gave the snipers time to aim. Yes, you can see where much of his background leaked into his storytelling. Absolutely fantastic narration. Short story anthologies is one of my favorite forms of book reading. So..., now I'm off to keep an eye on my cat. Stay well and thank you again.
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Now here's a happy Snippy! My favorite audiobook narrator is reading me to sleep tonight! I hope you are well, and thank you for all the lovely stories.
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Marvelous Saki, marvelously read! Thank you for being the messenger of the text, your fine voice and knack for children's and women's voices always in character and not forced. Your delivery never calls attention to itself but communicates the essentials. I'm not a Brit, but I really appreciated the rustic dialect in "Hounds of Fate." It reminded me of some of the country speech in "The Secret Garden."
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Thank you sir. Excellent!
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Here I am again at 4am unable to sleep and searching for your soothing voice to help me unwind. Thanks Simon, you are the best! Hope your holiday is going well.
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I am saving this for my bedtime but I already gave it a thumbs up because Simon you’re always good
