The Unbearable Bassington

By Saki and H. H. "Saki" Munro

Book Overview

"The Unbearable Bassington" is a masterclass in social satire and the debut novel of the celebrated Edwardian wit, Saki (H.H. Munro). Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century London high society, the narrative explores the turbulent relationship between Francesca Bassington and her handsome, yet hopelessly irresponsible son, Comus. Francesca is a woman of taste and ambition whose primary goal is to maintain her social standing and her beloved drawing-room furniture, while Comus is a charming youth whose inability to conform to societal expectations leads to a series of social blunders and his eventual downfall.

Through sharp dialogue and biting irony, Saki dissects the vanity, cruelty, and superficiality of the British upper class. While the author is primarily known for his macabre and witty short stories, this longer work allows for a deeper exploration of character and a more sustained tragic tone. "The Unbearable Bassington" remains a poignant reflection on the consequences of selfishness and the rigid structures of a fading era. It is a work of profound literary merit, balancing devastating humor with a lingering sense of melancholy, making it essential reading for fans of classic British literature and sophisticated social commentary.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025401387
• ISBN13: 9781025401386
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.6" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

A good peek at Edwardian England

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.

Little-known masterpiece

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.