By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)
The cat is the perfect subject for a Saki story. There is something catlike about many of his young protagonists: aloof, urbane, poised, louche, and yet underneath it all there is a feral streak. So it comes as little surprise that Hector Hugh Munro (1870-1916), better known by his pen name ‘Saki’, wrote a wonderful cat story, ‘Tobermory’ (1911). Even better, it’s about a cat that is taught to talk.
By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)
‘The Lumber-Room’ is a classic short story about a child who is too clever for the adults. Specifically, it is about how one clever but mischievous boy, Nicholas, seeks to outwit his aunt so he can gain access to the lumber-room with its hidden treasures and curiosities. But the story might also be viewed as an analysis of the nature of obedience, and the limited adult view of the world, when contrasted with the child’s more expansive and imaginative outlook. You can read ‘The Lumber-Room’ here.