The Disappearance of Crispina Umberleigh by Saki
Two British men travel on a train through Hungary, discussing a recent mysterious disappearance of a famous painting from the Louvre. The conversation shifts to the disappearance of Crispina Umberleigh, a domineering woman whose absence shocked her family. Her husband, Edward Umberleigh, was a strong political figure but was completely subjugated by Crispina's will. The family initially believed she had gone to a nursing home, but her absence led to unexpected changes in the household dynamics. The children, previously under Crispina's strict control, began to indulge in activities she had forbidden, such as cycling. Edward received a ransom note claiming Crispina had been kidnapped and was being held in Norway, demanding £2,000 annually for her care. Despite his moral qualms, Edward decided to pay the ransom, fearing for her safety. He rationalized the payments as a necessary expense to ensure her well-being, receiving periodic updates about her health and activities. The police continued their investigation but suspected Edward knew more than he revealed. After eight years, Crispina returned unexpectedly, having never been kidnapped. Instead, she had suffered a complete loss of memory, leading her to believe she was a charwoman. She had worked in Birmingham, where her domineering nature resurfaced until a chance encounter restored her memory. The supposed kidnappers had fabricated the entire scenario, likely a former servant attempting to extort money from Edward. Crispina's return disrupted the newfound freedom her children had enjoyed, while Edward struggled to justify the significant financial outlay incurred during her absence. The story concludes with the men arriving at their destination, leaving the complexities of Crispina's disappearance and its aftermath behind.
By Saki · First published 1910 · Genre: Mystery, Satire, Literary Fiction · 2,020 words
First lines
In a first-class carriage of a train speeding Balkanward across the flat, green Hungarian plain two Britons sat in friendly, fitful converse. They had first foregathered in the cold grey dawn at the frontier line, where the presiding eagle takes on an extra head and Teuton lands pass from Hohenzollern to Habsburg keeping -- and where a probing official beak requires to delve in polite and perhaps perfunctory, but always tiresome, manner into the baggage of sleep-hungry passengers. After a day's break of their journey at Vienna the travellers had again foregathered at the trainside and paid one another the compliment of settling instinctively into the same carriage. The elder of the two had the appearance and manner of a diplomat; in point of fact he was the well-connected foster-brother of a wine business. The other was certainly a journalist. Neither man was talkative and each was grateful to the other for not being talkative. That is why from time to time they talked.
What this Textopian page supports
The Disappearance of Crispina Umberleigh is listed on Textopian as a short story by Saki, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Saki
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Satire, Literary Fiction, Comedy, Drama
- Length: 2,020 words
- Structure: 1 section, 24 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Disappearance of Crispina Umberleigh by Saki
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Disappearance of Crispina Umberleigh?
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Similar titles
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- Forewarned by Saki
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- The Oversight by Saki
- The Threat by Saki
- The Boomerang by Frank R. Stockton
Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around the mysterious disappearance of Crispina Umberleigh, creating intrigue and suspense.
- Satire — The story critiques social norms and family dynamics, particularly the oppressive nature of Crispina's character.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is characterized by rich language and complex characterizations, typical of literary fiction.
- Comedy — The absurdity of the situation and the characters' reactions provide comedic elements throughout the narrative.
Tags
mystery · humor · satire · Victorian · social commentary · absurdity · character study · whimsy · suspense · irony · dark comedy · plot twist