Author Description

This edition has been annotated with the following unique content. Historical Context Detailed late 19th to early 20th Century Historical Outline A Classic Collection of Short Stories by W. W. Jacobs The Lady of The Barge and Other Stories by English author W. W. Jacobs is a book of literary fiction first published in 1902 in the United Kingdom. Book Excerpt “He broke off and eyed with dignified surprise a fine piece of wireless telegraphy between husband and wife. It appeared that Mr. Negget sent off a humorous message with his left eye, the right being for some reason closed, to which Mrs. Negget replied with a series of frowns and staccato shakes of the head, which her husband found easily translatable. Under the austere stare of Mr. Bodfish their faces at once regained their wonted calm, and the ex-constable in a somewhat offended manner resumed his inquiries.” Synopsis The Lady of the Barge is a collection of 12 short stories by W. W. Jacobs, first published in 1902. This anthology includes some of his iconic work: The Monkey's Paw, The Lady of the Barge, Bill's Paper Chase, The Well, Cupboard Love, In the Library, Captain Rogers, A Tiger's Skin, A Mixed Proposal, An Adulteration Act, A Golden Venture, and Three at Table. These stories from a range of genres such as of suspense, situational humour, drama, romance, horror, crime, greed and murder. The title story, "The Lady of the Barge," follows the lives of the inhabitants of a barge named "The Lady of the Barge." The characters are a diverse group of people, including a retired sea captain, a young couple in love, and a group of dockworkers. The story is a mix of comedy and tragedy, as the characters navigate their way through the challenges of life on the river. Other stories in the collection include "The Monkey's Paw," a horror story about a cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes with disastrous consequences, and "The Well," a tale of a sailor encounter with a mysterious well