Hector Hugh Munro

Date of Birth: December 18, 1870

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: November 14, 1916

Biography

Hector Hugh Munro, better known by his pen name Saki, was a British writer born on December 18, 1870, in Akyab, Burma (now Sittwe, Myanmar). Renowned for his witty, mischievous short stories, he often satirized Edwardian society and culture. Munro’s father was an inspector-general for the Burmese police, and his mother tragically died when he was only two years old, leading him and his siblings to be raised by aunts in England, whose strict and oppressive upbringing inspired much of his later work. After a brief stint in the military and a period working as a journalist in various countries, including Russia and the Balkans, Munro began publishing works of fiction. His collections, such as “Reginald” (1904), “The Chronicles of Clovis” (1911), and “Beasts and Super-Beasts” (1914), solidified his reputation as a master of the short story. Many of his tales feature macabre and bizarre elements, often concluding with a twist ending. Munro enlisted in the British Army at the outbreak of World War I, despite being over the age limit for conscription. Unfortunately, he was killed in action on November 14, 1916, during the Battle of the Ancre in France. His legacy endures through his influential and enduringly popular body of work.

5 Interesting Facts about Hector Hugh Munro

1. Munro’s pen name “Saki” is believed to be derived from the cupbearer in the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, though it could also mean a small, South American monkey.

2. He was known for his sharp wit and satirical style, often likened to that of Oscar Wilde and P.G. Wodehouse.

3. Munro’s work was highly critical of Edwardian society and often depicted children and animals outsmarting adults.

4. He served as a foreign correspondent for newspapers like The Morning Post, which took him to places like Warsaw, St. Petersburg, and the Balkans.

5. Despite his aristocratic background, Munro was a fierce critic of British Imperialism.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hector Hugh Munro

1. “The young have aspirations that never come to pass, the old have reminiscences of what never happened.”

2. “A little inaccuracy sometimes saves a ton of explanation.”

3. “He is one of those people who would be enormously improved by death.”

4. “Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you. Now tell me about hundreds of things.”

5. “I love Americans, but not when they try to speak French. What a blessing it is that they never try to speak English.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Hector Hugh Munro is not well-documented, but he was not known to have amassed significant wealth during his lifetime.