In another post I share a synopsis of The Open Window a short ghost story written by H.H. Munro aka Saki in the early 1900s.
This review can be found here.
Saki |
In 1893, Saki joined the
Indian Imperial Police, following in his father’s footsteps but within two
years he returned to England suffering from failing health.
He then became a journalist
and began to publish books in 1900. Saki was killed by a sniper’s bullet in
November of 1916 during the First World War.
Another story Saki wrote is entitled Laura. It reflects
his ability to show the ironic side of life.
The story begins with two
friends talking. Laura has come to visit her friend Amanda in the country. It
quickly becomes apparent that she does not like Amanda’s husband, Egbert.
Egbert had criticized her for
letting the collie puppies out so they could go for a run. Laura confesses that
she has been “petty and mean” as revenge for Egbert’s fuss, she confesses she messed with two
of his favorite things in life—his hens and his garden.
In a not too subtle offhand
manner Saki also lets the reader know that Laura is about to die—from
something never mentioned.
Laura muses with her friend
that for her pettiness she might be reincarnated as a lower life form—an
animal—specifically an otter.
What happens next reflects
Saki’s ability to tell tales with a sense of fun but also with a macabre twist
on life. Can Laura continue her revenge even after death?
The story Laura can be found in a collection of short ghost stories presented by Rex Collins entitled Classic Victorian & Edwardian Ghost Stories.
Or it can read it online
here.
Here is an audio version of
the story.
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