The Guests by Hector Hugh Munro
A group of people are invited to a dinner party at a country house. The guests arrive and are greeted by the host, who is eccentric and somewhat sinister. As the evening progresses, it becomes clear that each guest has a dark secret or ulterior motive for being there. The host's true intentions are slowly revealed, leading to a shocking climax.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1908 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Short Story · 1,747 words
First lines
"The landscape seen from our windows is certainly charming," said Annabel; "those cherry orchards and green meadows, and the river winding along the valley, and the church tower peeping out among the elms, they all make a most effective picture. There's something dreadfully sleepy and languorous about it, though; stagnation seems to be the dominant note. Nothing ever happens here; seedtime and harvest, an occasional outbreak of measles or a mildly destructive thunderstorm, and a little election excitement about once in five years, that is all that we have to modify the monotony of our existence. Rather dreadful, isn't it?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Guests is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hector Hugh Munro
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Satire, Short Story, Domestic Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 1,747 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Guests by Hector Hugh Munro
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Guests?
- How does this short story by Hector Hugh Munro fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Phantom Luncheon by Hector Hugh Munro
- Cousin Teresa by Hector Hugh Munro
- Excepting Mrs Pentherby by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Background by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Brogue by Hector Hugh Munro
Genres
- Comedy — The narrative is filled with humorous situations and witty dialogue, particularly in the interactions between characters and the absurdity of the events described.
- Satire — The story satirizes social norms and the absurdity of maintaining decorum in the face of chaotic and ridiculous circumstances.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single incident, characteristic of the short story format.
- Domestic Fiction — The plot revolves around domestic life and the challenges of hosting guests, albeit in an exaggerated and humorous manner.
Tags
Satire · Dark Comedy · Social Commentary · Class Satire · British Literature · Edwardian Era · Short Story Collection · Anti-Hero · Morality Tale · Critique of Society · Upper Class · Snobbery