The Toys of Peace and Other Papers - Softcover

Saki

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1974474283 ISBN 13: 9781974474288

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017

Synopsis

This is the last collection of short stories written by the witty British author, Hector Hugh Munro, better known by his pen names "Saki" or "H. H. Munro", compiled posthumously by his friend, Rothay Reynolds. The title story is a humorous tale of trying to indoctrinate young boys with a culture of peace rather than war, by a mother and her brother, Harvey, who give her boys "peace toys" for Easter instead of toy guns, tin soldiers, and the like. Excerpt: "A quantity of crinkly paper shavings was the first thing that met the view when the lid was removed; the most exiting toys always began like that. Harvey pushed back the top layer and drew forth a square, rather featureless building. "'It’s a fort!' exclaimed Bertie. ... "'It’s a municipal dust-bin,' said Harvey hurriedly; 'you see all the refuse and litter of a town is collected there, instead of lying about and injuring the health of the citizens.'" The boys were not impressed by such gifts as tin statues of economists, scientists, sanitary inspectors, and politicians, rather than soldiers and heroes; models of municipal buildings rather than forts; toy hoes instead of toy guns. Left to play with the new politically correct toys, the boys manage to completely thwart the plan, to the frustration of the well-meaning adults. There are 33 stories in all, plus an introduction about the life of the author written by Rothay Reynolds

About this title

About the Author:

Saki was the pen name of the British writer Hector Hugh Munro (1870 1916). In addition to his short stories, of which he was an acknowledged master, he also wrote a full-length play, "The Watched Pot", in collaboration with Charles Maude; two one-act plays; a historical study, "The Rise of the Russian Empire"; a short novel, The Unbearable Bassington"; a parody of Alice in Wonderland", "The Westminster Alice"; and a fantasy about England under German occupation, When William Came".

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1974474283
• ISBN 13: 9781974474288
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192