When William Came: A Story of London Under the Hohenzollerns

After the death of Edward VII, the feeling of impending conflict was increasing in Britain, and indeed all around Europe. The atmosphere of growing martial expectation made for escalating tension.

Inevitably Saki wondered. What would happen if Britain were attacked and overcome? How might such a thing occur? Who would be the likely invader? Really how ready was Britain for combat?

With new confidence as a novelist, he applied his elan to a seemingly fantastic proposal: suppose the Germans (at...