Crosscurrents

Crosscurrents by Saki (1918)

The narrative follows Vanessa Pennington, a woman caught between her impoverished husband and her wealthy admirer, Alaric Clyde. Clyde, initially devoted to Vanessa, becomes enamored with the allure of wilderness adventures, leaving her to navigate a mundane life filled with domestic chores and social gatherings. After her husband's death, Clyde sees an opportunity to pursue Vanessa, but under the condition that she joins him in the wilderness. Vanessa, eager for a change, agrees to accompany Clyde, but soon finds herself overwhelmed by the harsh realities of their new life. The excitement of adventure quickly turns to discomfort as she struggles to adapt to the nomadic lifestyle and the unfamiliar cultures they encounter. Her discontent grows, leading her to seek companionship in Mr. Dobrinton, a British man who represents the civilization she longs for. As Clyde immerses himself in hunting and exploration, Vanessa and Dobrinton bond over their shared frustrations with Clyde's lifestyle. Their relationship takes a turn when they are captured by Kurdish brigands, complicating their situation further. Clyde, attempting to rescue them, also falls into the hands of the same captors, leading to a tense and awkward dynamic among the three. The captives endure a period of silence and discomfort, with each grappling with their circumstances. Clyde's desire for freedom ultimately leads him to abandon the group, returning to his pursuits in the wilderness. Meanwhile, Dobrinton's fate takes a tragic turn when he is bitten by a dog and dies, leaving Vanessa to return home alone. In the aftermath, Vanessa finds a semblance of respectability by securing a job in a West End club, while Clyde continues his solitary adventures, ultimately seeking a divorce. The story explores themes of desire, respectability, and the clash between civilization and the wild, highlighting the complexities of human relationships and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.

By Saki · First published 1918 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Adventure · 2,557 words

First lines

Vanessa Pennington had a husband who was poor, with few extenuating circumstances, and an admirer who, though comfortably rich, was cumbered with a sense of honour. His wealth made him welcome in Vanessa's eyes, but his code of what was right impelled him to go away and forget her, or at the most to think of her in the intervals of doing a great many other things. And although Alaric Clyde loved Vanessa, and thought he should always go on loving her, he gradually and unconsciously allowed himself to be wooed and won by a more alluring mistress; he fancied that his continued shunning of the haunts of men was a self-imposed exile, but his heart was caught in the spell of the Wilderness, and the Wilderness was kind and beautiful to him. When one is young and strong and unfettered the wild earth can be very kind and very beautiful. Witness the legion of men who were once young and unfettered and now eat out their souls in dustbins, because, having erstwhile known and loved the Wilderness, they broke from her thrall and turned aside into beaten paths.

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Crosscurrents is listed on Textopian as a short story by Saki, dated 1918 CE.

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short stories · satire · humor · British literature · early 20th century · social commentary · irony · character study · nature · human behavior · wit · dialogue

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