When William Came by Saki
"When William Came" is a pre-World War I novel by the author Saki, which serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of British isolationism and military unpreparedness in the face of rising German militarism. The story follows Murrey Yeovil, a wealthy British man who, after recovering from malaria in Siberia, discovers that Britain has been defeated by Germany. Upon his return to London, he finds that life continues with minimal disruption, despite the German occupation, which has led to superficial changes like bilingual street signs. Many of Yeovil's peers have adjusted to their new circumstances, which fills him with disgust at their complacency.
As the narrative progresses, Yeovil becomes increasingly alarmed by the government's attempts to weaken British military capabilities, sparking his desire for action. He encounters groups of patriots in the countryside who resist the occupation, which reinvigorates his hope for resistance among the British people. The story culminates with a sense of optimism focused on the potential for future rebellion, particularly through the youth of Britain, symbolized by a troop of boy scouts engaged in passive resistance. Overall, Saki's novel critiques societal complacency and advocates for a proactive stance in the face of growing external threats.
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When William Came by Saki
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of World Literature, Revised Edition
First published: 1913
Type of work: Novel
The Work
When William Came is one of a handful of literary works published before the outbreak of World War I that warned of the dangers of British isolationism. Like Guy du Maurier’s popular melodrama, The Englishman’s Home (1909), and Erskine Childer’s The Riddle of the Sands (1903), Saki’s novel is a cautionary tale about British military unpreparedness and the need to pay more serious attention to European affairs, especially to German militarism. Saki championed the cause of universal military training in Great Britain, and he wanted to shock those in power out of their smugness and their false sense of security. Like the other prewar jeremiads, When William Came took on an increased importance as prophecy in the aftermath of World War I.
The plot of the novel is fairly straightforward, if episodic. Murrey Yeovil is a typical Saki hero, wealthy, upper-class, conservative, British. While hunting in Siberia, he falls ill with malaria, and while recuperating learns of Great Britain’s defeat by the Germans. He returns to London, where he finds life pretty much carrying on as usual except that the Germans are in command. On the surface, very little has changed except that the street signs are bilingual, and there are more Germans about. Most of British society has been left alone. Murrey finds that most of his friends have adapted quite well to their conquerors and mingle with them amiably. He grows disgusted with the acquiescence of the British, especially the upper classes, in their acceptance of their occupation.
Murrey is finally prompted to action by a series of events that begin with the decree barring all Britons from military training. He sees this as a deliberate attempt to weaken the British and to reduce the possibility for future resistance to the Germans. On a trip he discovers groups of patriots nestled in the English countryside who have not yet succumbed to the will of the new government. Emboldened by his discovery, he returns to London to witness the passive resistance of a troop of boy scouts, which confirms his suspicion that the youth of Great Britain offer the only hope for future rebellion against the invaders. The novel ends on this somewhat optimistic note.
Bibliography
Byrne, Sandie. “Saki.” In British Writers. Supplement VI, edited by Jay Parini. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2001.
Cavaliero, Glen. The Alchemy of Laughter: Comedy in English Fiction. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000.
Gillen, Charles H. H. H. Munro (Saki). Boston: Twayne, 1969.
Langguth, A. J. Saki: A Life of Hector Hugh Munro. 1981. Reprint. Los Angeles: Figueroa Press, 2003.
Mais, Stuart P. B. “The Humour of Saki.” In Books and Their Writers. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1920.
Milne, A. A. “Introducing Saki.” In By Way of Introduction. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1929.
Morley, Christopher. “Saki.” In Internal Revenue. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1933.
Spears, George James. The Satire of Saki. New York: Exposition Press, 1963.