"The Open Window" is a short story by British author Saki (H. H. Munro) that was first published in 1914. The story centers on a young man named Framton Nuttel, who visits a new town and is introduced to a young girl named Vera. Vera tells Framton a story about her aunt who leaves the French windows open to welcome back her husband and two brothers who died in a hunting accident years ago. She goes on to describe how the men are seen walking towards the house, and this scares Framton into leaving.
The claim of the story is the idea that appearances can be deceiving and that stories can be manipulated to create a desired effect. The story's main character, Vera, invents the story of the open window and the three ghosts as a practical joke to entertain herself and to play with Framton's emotions. The story highlights the power of storytelling and how it can be used to manipulate and control others. It also raises questions about the reliability of our perceptions and the importance of questioning what we see and hear.