The Unbearable Bassington, by Saki
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The Unbearable Bassington, by Saki
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"The Unbearable Bassington" from Saki. British writer (1870-1916).
The Unbearable Bassington, by Saki- Published on: 2015-06-16
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.00" h x .33" w x 6.00" l, .45 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 146 pages
About the Author Saki was the pen name of the British writer Hector Hugh Munro (1870 1916). In addition to his short stories, of which he was an acknowledged master, he also wrote a full-length play, "The Watched Pot", in collaboration with Charles Maude; two one-act plays; a historical study, "The Rise of the Russian Empire"; a short novel, The Unbearable Bassington"; a parody of Alice in Wonderland", "The Westminster Alice"; and a fantasy about England under German occupation, When William Came".
From AudioFile Comus Bassington is the irresponsible and ungrateful focus of his corner of British society. Circa 1900, what can be done with him--besides ship him to the Colonies, where he can no longer embarrass his mother or break the hearts of girls who ought to marry sensibly? Saki's social chaffing is gentle, revealing kernels of sympathy for all his superficial and misguided characters. As narrator, Joyce gives the right touch of class and has, besides, a gift for sketching a complete vocal characterization in a single sentence. This period piece is slow-paced, almost a ramble at times. But its subtle delights should please lovers of British social satirists from Austen to Wodehouse. S.P. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A life of quiet desperation By Donatien How fascinating these times must have been ! I am thinking of the period stretching from 1870 to 1914. Fascinating, of course, for the 20% or so of the population who lived between well and very well. For the poor, the times are never fascinating.Here, I am choosing 1912 and the publication of Saki's "The unbearable Bassington". At first, I thought it had been written in the 1930s. The man was ahead of his time.You could say it's a biography, rather than a novel. The young Comus Bassington is extremely good-looking, charming and articulate. His mother adores him. The feeling is not returned because he is also selfish, insensitive and irresponsible. He destroys everything he touches and antagonises all those who would be ready to like or love him. In the end, he detroys himself. He is as condemned to fail as is Orestes in Euripides' tragedy. Like all of us, Comus is his own worst enemy.So is his mother whose irrational attraction for "objets d'art" and beautiful furniture can never compensate for her lack of human warmth.So is his best friend, a pale copy of Comus himself, but rather dull and down to earth.So is the wealthy young lady they are both courting. She plumbs for the dull one. Given the choice between these two, she makes the right choice. Comus would undoubtedly have dilapidated her fortune. Disappointed by her conventional, dreary marriage, she enjoys a one-night stand with a Russian captain. We can't help feeling that he will be followed by many.In self-exile, Comus chooses to commit suicide in a slow, masochistic fashion. He lets himself die.The style is wonderful ; very light and a tad precious to start with, more sober towards the end. The "novel" starts with a succession of incisive, pityless portraits of the " le tout Londres", at times reminiscent of La Bruyère's Caractères. The plot - if you can call it that - underlines the quiet desperation of those who, in the eyes of "ordinary" people should have everything it takes to be happy.The mixture of elegance and sadless is unforgettable.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A good peek at Edwardian England By C. K. Whitsett The Unbearable Bassington centers on Francesca Bassington, a woman obsessed with protecting her possessions, and her son Comus, a wise-cracking, irresponsible, and shallow young man who simultaneously charms and offends everyone with whom he comes in contact. Francesca has affection for her son, but wishes he could be remade as a responsible member of society, especially where such responsibility can lead to Francesca's continued well-being. Comus, however, manages both purposely and accidentally to thwart his mother's wishes, and in the end is sent into exile in Africa, where it is hoped he will make a career. Secondary characters abound, most notably Courtney Youghal, a mediocre but flashy politician with whom Comus has a shallow friendship, and who becomes Comus's rival for the hand of the wealthy Elaine de Frey. Francesca disapproves of Courtney, yet it is clear she wishes that her son were more like him. Ironically, although Comus's main shortcoming seems that he's an idler, he is no more so than his mother and her circle. It seems more to the point to say that Comus doesn't idle in the proper way.Most of the book is a setup for the last few chapters, which deal with Comus's exile, and which are poignant in the best sense of the word. Essentially, Comus is doomed by his own nature, which will not allow him, as an adult, to fit into the society in which he was raised. I take strong issue with the idea, put forth by the previous reviewer, that Comus is Dorian Gray-like. The comparison is absurd. Comus is merely a puckish boy who doesn't fit, and so is sent away to be forgotten.The book is a fairly complex study of human motivation, although it is somewhat undercut by Saki's need to clutter the text with political and cultural details that detract from its basic themes. Also present are Saki's ubiquitious bons mots which, while charming in his short stories, become tiresome as the book goes on. This carping aside, it is an insightful look at middle-class England in the waning days of the empire, just prior to the outbreak of World War I.I think it's also something for us to read today, when perhaps our children aren't "achieving" as we think they should. That's why I reread it, and I'm glad I did.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Little-known masterpiece By Joseph W. Smith III Yes, Saki was one of the world's great short-story writers. Too bad so few know of this obscure full-length novel that displays every bit as much brilliance as the tales -- if not more. Concerns Comus Bassington, a worthless, Dorian Gray-like libertine living around the turn of the century, and the gradual dissolution of his life. Biting satire of materialism, written with vigor and beauty; a short of Bernard Shaw by way of Oscar Wilde (incidentally, the novel contains a mockery of Shaw, in the character of a playwright named Sherard Blaw!). Ardent readers are urged to find this gem and enjoy every minute of it.
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