Don't go into this book expecting a single, sprawling story. 'The Toys of Peace, and Other Papers' is a collection of Saki's last short stories and sketches, published after his death in World War I. There's no main character or continuous plot. Instead, it's a gallery of brilliant, bite-sized scenes from Edwardian England.

The Story

The 'story' is the world Saki paints: a world of drawing-room conversations, country house visits, and overly proper aunts. In one tale, a well-meaning aunt tries to reform her nephews with educational 'toys of peace' like model grain elevators, only to watch them instantly turn them into instruments of imaginative war. In another, a man invents a scandalous fictional friend to make himself seem more interesting, with chaotic results. A political hostess carefully engineers a dinner party to avoid a feud, guaranteeing it happens. Each piece is a perfectly set trap that springs on the pompous, the dull, or the self-important. The pleasure isn't in a mystery's solution, but in watching the flawless execution of a social sniper.

Why You Should Read It

I love this book because Saki's humor hasn't aged a day. His characters are still everywhere—the busybody, the bore, the social climber. His sentences are like polished gems: clean, sharp, and devastatingly funny. He has this incredible gift for saying the most outrageous thing in the most polite way. Reading him feels like being let in on a wonderful secret. Behind the wit, there's often a dark, almost rebellious glint. He sides with the clever children and the cunning outsiders against the stifling weight of convention. It's not just comedy; it's a quiet revolution conducted with a raised eyebrow and a perfectly timed remark.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys clever, darkly comic short stories. Fans of P.G. Wodehouse's silliness or Oscar Wilde's epigrams will find a kindred spirit here, though Saki is often sharper and more sinister. It's also great for busy readers—you can devour a story in a few minutes and feel thoroughly entertained. If you believe that the best response to absurdity is a well-crafted joke, Saki is your writer. Just be warned: after reading him, you might start seeing the potential for mischief in every polite conversation.