When William Came

Saki (1870 -1916), was the pen name of the British author Hector Hugh Munro, whose witty and sometimes macabre stories satirised Edwardian society and culture. The name Saki is often thought to be a reference to the cupbearer in the Rubiyt of Omar Khayyam, a poem mentioned disparagingly by the eponymous character in Reginald on Christmas Presents. Saki is considered a master of the short story and is often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy Parker. His tales feature delicately drawn characters and finely judged narratives. In addition to his short stories, he also wrote several plays; a short novel, The Unbearable Bassington (1912); and two novella-length satires, the episodic The Westminster Alice and When William Came (1913).