First published in 1912, "The Unbearable Bassington" was the first novel written by Saki (H. H. Munro). The book contains much of the elegant wit found in his short stories and showcases Saki’s wonderful writing and that ability to be so very funny and terribly sad at the same time.

The story is about the relationship between mother and son. Comus (The Unbearable) Bassington, is a charming young man about town. His perversity however thwarts all his mother’s efforts to advance his prospects and lands him in hot water. Like many a “black sheep” he ends up being sent off to one of the colonies to fend for himself...