The Unbearable Bassington


Read by NoelBadrian

(4.3 stars; 43 reviews)

The Unbearable Bassington was the first novel written by Saki (H. H. Munro). It also contains much of the elegant wit found in his short stories. 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. This book showcases Saki’s wonderful writing and that ability to be so very funny and terribly sad at the same time. (Summary by Noel Badrian) (5 hr 31 min)

Chapters

01 - Chapter 1 20:45 Read by NoelBadrian
02 - Chapter 2 12:50 Read by NoelBadrian
03 - Chapter 3 15:57 Read by NoelBadrian
04 - Chapter 4 22:59 Read by NoelBadrian
05 - Chapter 5 14:15 Read by NoelBadrian
06 - Chapter 6 22:23 Read by NoelBadrian
07 - Chapter 7 26:17 Read by NoelBadrian
08 - Chapter 8 18:05 Read by NoelBadrian
09 - Chapter 9 18:59 Read by NoelBadrian
10 - Chapter 10 20:07 Read by NoelBadrian
11 - Chapter 11 19:08 Read by NoelBadrian
12 - Chapter 12 25:36 Read by NoelBadrian
13 - Chapter 13 23:30 Read by NoelBadrian
14 - Chapter 14 18:17 Read by NoelBadrian
15 - Chapter 15 20:33 Read by NoelBadrian
16 - Chapter 16 15:50 Read by NoelBadrian
17 - Chapter 17 15:45 Read by NoelBadrian

Reviews

excellent reading


(5 stars)

Good grief.....not what I was expecting at all. I've read all of Saki's short stories and I should have been prepared. An eviscerating satire of the English upper middle class. Not many likable characters but a very skillfully told story with so many insights and incredible single lines of brilliant analysis. If you've ever wished to be a part of that set, this will cure you. I lived in England for two years and I saw some of what he is writing about. As an outsider, we can't really understand. But H.H. Munro does.

A Good Story


(5 stars)

The story is very well written and Mr. Badrian is phenomenally good at telling it. I kept looking for the good in the people but alas, found none. It’s worth a listen as it’s biting satire is so well done. Good grief people can be shallow!

Not quite as charming as later work by the same author


(3 stars)

As Saki’s first novel I suppose I should cut him some slack. Witty, but not as witty as his later short pieces. Terribly cruel to his characters, but not quite so charmingly as later. Well read. Recommended for people who like class satire; Oscar Wilde fans, for example.

Noel Badrian is masterful, understated, perfect in his reading


(5 stars)

This story is very powerful in the way that it all comes full circle. The worst thing to happen to anyone is to actually get the thing they thought they most desired.

Great reading. Good book.


(4 stars)

Excellent reading of a story that started with great promise but really tapered out at the end without much of a fizz. Still some signature Saki-isms are there to be enjoyed.

Very well read


(5 stars)

A interesting story full of sarcasm and irony. The reader is excellent.

Excellent book, wonderful reader. Thank you


(4.5 stars)

excellent book, wonderful reader. t

Beautiful writing in the service of a tragic satire


(5 stars)