Edward Vii And Saki Essay, Research Paper
Peaceful yet popular and very well respected, Edward VII plays an influential part in bringing Great Britain, France, and Russia together in 1907 into the Triple Entente. One of the most wittiest and inventive satirist s writers in England is a journalist most noted for his fiction pieces, known as Hector Hugh Munro. Saki is his pen name ( Comptons Online Encyclopedia). His typical stories are marked by amoral reversal revenge on the pretentious cruel practical jokes, and uncary supernatural incidents (Encyclopedia of Knowledge). Evidence from research has proven to show that Edward VII’s political practices and beliefs have almost no influence on Saki’s writings.
Edward VII is born in London in 1841, at Buckingham Palace. He is the first of three sons born to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Edward belongs to the royal family of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and is the first member of the royal family to tour the USA ( Ross, 15).
When his father died in 1861, Queen Victoria, Edward’s mother, blamed him for the death. Edward then has his seat in the House of Lords as the Duke of Cornwall (www.spartacus.com). In 1863, Edward married Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The Prince and Princess have six children (Encyclopedia Americana).
In 1901, Edward is the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britian and Ireland and empire of India (Encyclopedia Americana, 544). Edward takes place in many public duties, has a close interest in politics, and has an intrest in the military. He opposed attemps to reduce public spending on the armed forces (Langguth,129).In 1904, Edward contributed to the Entente Cordiale, and the Anglo Russian Agreement of 1907 (www.ukdb.web.aol.com). While at throne, Edward helps support the Territorial and Reserve Forces Acts, helped find Royal College of Music,witnessed the conservative party split,opposed woman’s suffrage, and Edward is a patron of Arts and Sciences. Edward is also a familiar figure in the worlds of racing, yachting, and grouse shooting ( Somerset,29). After a short reign of only nine years, Edward VII, the King, collapsed on the afternoon of May 6, 1910, after a series of heart attacks. He left the throne to his son, King George V ( www.spartcus.com).
The very first decade of the 20th century is the decade in which Edward VII reigned. This era is known as the Edwardian Era (World Book Encyclopedia, 59). It is King Edward’s era, being named after him. ” The Edwardian Era was the beginning of the 20th century, and led to all sorts of predictions by all sorts of people about how that century would signal the start of a truly golden age,” said Richard Washington. This era is known as the sanest era in the history of our world (www.geocites.com). Edward VII along with other Edwardians helped to make it that way.
Saki is a novelist and short story writer born in Akyab, Mynamar on December 18,1870 ( www.spartcus.com). Munro is the youngest of an Inspector – General’s three children. At age two, he is sent to England and is brought up by his two strict aunts, Aunt Tom and Aunt Augusta. Hw later takes literary revenge on them by using them as characters in the “Lumber” and the “Sex That Never Shops” (Langguth, 219).
In June of 1893, Saki returns to Burma, joins the police force, and begins to study Burgmese animals. He writes about one of the tigers in his short story, ” Mrs. Packletide`s Tiger.” Saki says, ” It was Mrs. Packletides pleasure and intention that she should shoot a tiger.” Three years later, Munro returns to London and writes political satires for the West Minister Gazette and publishes ” The Rise of the Empire”, in 1900 (Encyclopedia of Knowledge, 224 ). A collection called Not So Stories is published soon after in 1902. For a few years he works as a foreign correspondent for the Morning Post, in the Balkans, in Russia, and France, before settling in London in 1908 to write full time (www.bnl.com). In 1910, “Reginald” in Russia is published, followed by ” The Chronicles of Clovis” in 1912 ( www.bnl.com). By the spring of 1914, Saki is writing a column called ” Potted Parliament for Outlook” and ” Beasts and Superbeasts” is published the same year ( langguth,187).
Hector Hugh Munro is also responsible for two novels. These novels show his gifts as a satirist of his upper-class Edwardian Era ( Comptons Online Encyclopedia). These two novels were , The Unbearable Bassington , and When William Came. The Unbearable Bassington features a likeable but maljusted hero ( AOL: Biography Find). Saki shows his sense of humor, high spirits, wit and urbanity in the two stories ( www.bnl.com).
In June of 1916, Saki goes back to London to spend time with his sister and brother. Three months later, he becomes a lance – sergeant ( langguth, 22). November of the same year, Saki enters World War I. Hector Hugh Munro, Saki, is killed by a sniper in the early hours of a winter day, on November 13, 1916 ( Langguth, 98).
Saki is remembered for his fiction pieces distinguishing by dialogue and narrative ( Encyclopedia Americana, 26). He delightes readers with his political sketches, intensive writings. He is often compared with ” O-Henry” ( www.spartcus.com).
Edward VII and Saki’s lives overlap. Munro’s writings are not influenced by Edward’s practices or beliefs, except for the content of The Unbearable Bassington and When William Came. These novels deal with the Edwardian Period which is named after Edward himself. Both of Munro’s Novels are published after Edward VII’s death. Saki is not living under King Edward VII’s rule for all nine years of his reign. Saki’s only there to witness the last two years of the Kings Reign. (1908-1910)
Edward VII and Saki both live through many of the same events,witness and feel similiar feelings, and share the concept of trouble childhoods, but Edward’s political influences do not effect the works of Saki. Hector Hugh Munro and Edward VII both live seperate lives and have different beliefs.