This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
William Wymark Jacobs was an English author of short stories and novels. Quite popular in his lifetime primarily for his amusing maritime tales of life along the London docks (many of them humorous as well as sardonic in tone). Today he is best known for a few short works of horror fiction. One being "The Monkey's Paw"(published 1902). It has in its own right become a well-known and widely anthologized classic.
~Literary Works
Many Cargoes (1896) The Skipper's Wooing (1897) Sea Urchins (1898) /aka More Cargoes (US) (1898) A Master of Craft (1900) The Monkey's Paw (1902) The Toll House (1902) Light Freights (1901) At Sunwich Port (1902) The Barge (1902) Odd Craft (1903) : contains The Money Box, basis of Laurel and Hardy film Our Relations (1935) Dialstone Lane (1902) Captain's All (1905) Short Cruises (1907) Salthaven (1908) Sailors' Knots (1909) The Toll House (1909) Ship's Company (1911) Night Watches (1914) The Castaways (1916) Deep Waters (1919) Sea Whispers (1926)
Enjoyed these 19th century short-stories more than I expected too, the humour is still light and accessible today. The vindictive personalities and small mind of the sailors were reminiscent of modern comedy sketch characters such as those from Little Britain or the League of Gentlemen. I have docked it a star as there were a couple of stories, the ones centred around Bob Pretty, which inexplicably deviated from the nautical theme. This book was rescued by my partner from a display in a Manchester airport restaurant - a deeply sad end for an elderly book in very good condition. I couldn't help massaging the one ripped page with despair.
Yet another nice typical collection of 10 Jacobs short stories, all enjoyable, but none great, one "horror" story the rest comic pieces, mainly about sailors.