When William Came (1913) is a novel by Saki. Considered a masterpiece
of invasion literature, When William Came indulges in the paranoid
atmosphere of the leadup to the Great War to weave a sinister tale of
espionage, survival, and conspiracy. Keenly aware of the heightening
tensions between Britain and Germany, Saki crafts an entertaining story
with a political purpose: to call for national conscription in the event
of war. Much has changed in London since Murrey Yeovil left for a
hunting trip in Eastern Siberia. War came and went, London fell to
German forces, and his wife Cicely found a younger lover. Disembarking
from the train, he gets into a cab and gives his address, only to
discover his driver speaks German. Slowly, he grows accustomed to the
rhythms of life under an occupying force, but it is impossible to ignore
how many people have been lost. Of those who survived the war, many fled
for the countryside or to colonies and nations overseas. They are the
lucky ones, who need not fear a trip to the store or a turn down the
wrong street might lead to imprisonment--or worse. Soon, Murrey must
decide where his true loyalties lie. With a beautifully designed cover
and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Saki's When
William Came is a classic of British invasion literature reimagined for
modern readers.