The Chronicles of Clovis by Saki
"The Chronicles of Clovis" is a collection of short stories by the British author Saki, known for his sharp wit and satirical commentary on early 20th-century society. The stories revolve around characters who are often depicted as snobbish and obsessed with appearances, revealing their hypocritical nature through various comedic and dark scenarios. For instance, in "Mrs. Packletide's Tiger," a woman's facade of bravado is shattered when her much-publicized hunt goes awry, exposing her vanity and the lengths she will go to maintain her image.
Other tales, like "Tobermory," explore themes of social reputation, as a cat reveals the hidden misdeeds of party guests, prompting them to consider drastic measures rather than reform. Saki’s work often contrasts the superficiality of his characters with more genuine, albeit dark, elements, such as in "Sredni Vashtar," where a boy’s devotion to a ferret leads to a shocking outcome.
Overall, "The Chronicles of Clovis" illustrates a society rife with pretense, where characters prioritize appearances over authenticity, often leading to ironic and unexpected conclusions. The collection is noted for its clever use of satire to critique social norms and the human condition, making it a fascinating read for those interested in early modern literature and social commentary.
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The Chronicles of Clovis
First published: 1911
Type of work: Stories
Type of plot: Fantasy—Magical Realism
Time of work: The first two decades of the twentieth century
Locale: England
The Plot
Saki’s snobbish characters are obsessed with appearances despite their glaring flaws. In “Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger,” Mrs. Packletide travels to India to hunt. Native villagers stake out a goat to attract an ancient tiger, and when Mrs. Packletide shoots, the tiger falls dead. It is later discovered that she shot the goat, and the tiger merely died of heart failure. To save face, she bribes her hired companion to keep the secret. In “Tobermory,” Cornelius Appin announces to the skeptical guests at a weekend party that he has taught his cat to speak. The cat begins to describe the scandalous behavior he has observed among the guests. The guests plot to poison the animal rather than rectify their behavior.
Despite their veneer of respectability, Saki’s characters are heartless and petty. “Esmé” tells the story of a baroness riding on a fox hunt with a companion. They are followed by a hyena that has escaped from a local zoo. The animal seizes a gypsy child and consumes it in the bushes, and the beast itself is soon killed by a car. The baroness claims that the hyena was her show dog and later receives a diamond brooch from the contrite motorist.
Saki’s society is peopled by pretentious people who neither understand nor appreciate the art they pretend to adore. In “The Recessional,” Clovis composes a poem as the result of a wager with a poet who insists that only a rare genius is capable of publishing verse. Clovis’ poem is full of comical alliteration and errors of fact. His connections, however, make it possible for him to publish the poem in a literary magazine, so that he wins the bet. In “The Background,” Henri Delpis receives an inheritance while visiting Italy. Among his impulsive purchases is a tattoo by Pincini, a master of the craft. Pincini dies, and by the time his widow demands payment, Delpis is penniless. The widow reclaims rights to the tattoo and donates it to the government. The tattoo thus becomes an Italian art treasure, and Delpis is forbidden to leave Italy, swim in the sea, or display the work without government approval.
Even in their religion, Saki’s characters are more concerned with appearance than with substance. “The Story of St. Vespaluus” tells of an ancient king who chooses young Vespaluus as his heir. The king is a serpent worshiper, and when Vespaluus converts to Christianity, he is sentenced to death by bee stings. A sympathetic beekeeper removes the bees’ stingers, and Vespaluus’ survival is deemed a miracle. Vespaluus ascends to the throne and, to his horror, his people convert to Christianity; he only feigned conversion to antagonize the king, and he remains an avid serpent worshiper.
To Saki, primitive faith, like serpent worship, is preferable to and more real than the pretense of organized religion. In “Sredni Vashtar,” a young boy elaborately worships a captured ferret that he hides from his mean-spirited guardian. He prays to the animal to deliver him from the guardian; in the end the ferret kills her. In “The Music on the Hill,” Sylvia Seltoun convinces her dull husband to go to the country, where he immerses himself in the wilds. Sylvia finds a statue of Pan in a clearing, with an offering of grapes left by her husband. She removes the grapes and, as punishment, is killed by a deer while Pan stands by laughing.