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The Lady of the Barge and Other Stories
William Wymark Jacobs (8 September 1863 - 1 September 1943) was an English author of short stories and novels. During his career, he was best known for his farcical comedies involving dockside and rural Essex characters. He occasionally wrote horror stories and is best remembered today for "The Monkey's Paw" (1902). In 1879, Jacobs began work as a clerk in the civil service, in the Post Office Savings Bank, and by 1885, he had his first short story published. His road to success was relatively slow' Arnold Bennett writing in 1898 was astonished that Jacobs turned down the sum of �500 for six short stories. Jacobs was financially secure enough to be able to leave the post office in 1899.
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1902
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About the author
W.W. Jacobs
1,054 books160 followersWilliam 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)
~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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 20, 2025
Stick to horror, dude.
A collection of 12 short stories by WW Jacobs, classical British writer of some renown, and mainly famous for being the author of “The Monkey's Paw.”
Another interesting mixed bag collection of sorts, with many Best, Good and Meh.
After reading that many short stories I can confidently say, at least from my experience, that WW Jacobs strong suit seems to be ‘Horror’. All my Best fall in that genre, while all other Good and Meh fall under the ‘Humor’ category. I don’t think it’s badly humorous, I’m sure many others could possibly find all these stories very funny and quite amusing; it’s just, sadly, not the type of humor that resonates strongly with me; most times. But they are still good, I think. I certainly did appreciate the ideas, simple, predictable and quirky as they were sometimes.
Go for the Best, consider the Good, whatever the Meh.
The Best :
★★★★☆ “The Well.” [4.5]
★★★★☆ “Three at Table.”
★★★★☆ “The Monkey's Paw.” [3.5]
The Good :
★★★☆☆ “The Lady of the Barge.” [3.5]
★★★☆☆ “Captain Rogers.”
★★★☆☆ “A Mixed Proposal.” [2.5]
★★★☆☆ “Bill's Paper Chase.” [2.5]
The Meh :
★★☆☆☆ “Cupboard Love.” [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “In the Library.” [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “An Adulteration Act.”
★★☆☆☆ “A Golden Venture.”
★☆☆☆☆ “A Tiger's Skin.” [1.5]
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1902] [124p] [Collection] [Partly Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
Limitate al terror, maestro.
Una colección de 12 cuentos de WW Jacobs, escritor clásico británico de cierto renombre, y principalmente famoso por ser el autor de “La Pata de Mono.”
Otra interesante colección de resultado mixto, con muchos Mejor, Bueno y Meh.
Después de leer tantas historias cortas, puedo decir con seguridad, al menos desde mi experiencia, que el punto fuerte de WW Jacobs parece ser el "Horror". Todos mis Mejores están en ese género, mientras que todos los demás Buenos y Meh caen en la categoría de "Humor". No creo que éste sea mal humor, estoy convencido que todas estas historias a muchos otros les podrían resultar muy graciosas y bastante divertidas; pero, lamentablemente, no es el tipo de humor que resuena fuerte conmigo; la mayoría de las veces. Pero igual creo que siguen siendo buenas. Ciertamente aprecié las ideas, por simples, predecibles y excéntricas que a veces fueran.
Ir por lo Mejor, considerar lo Bueno, loquesea lo Meh.
Lo Mejor :
★★★★☆ “El Pozo de Agua.” [4.5]
★★★★☆ “Tres en la Mesa.”
★★★★☆ “La Pata de Mono.” [3.5]
Lo Bueno :
★★★☆☆ “La Dama de la Barcaza.” [3.5]
★★★☆☆ “Capitán Rogers.”
★★★☆☆ “Una Propuesta Mixta.” [2.5]
★★★☆☆ “La Persecución de Papel de Bill.” [2.5]
Lo Meh :
★★☆☆☆ “Amor de Armario.” [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “En la Biblioteca.” [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “Un Acta de Adulteración.”
★★☆☆☆ “Una Empresa Dorada.”
★☆☆☆☆ “La Piel de un Tigre.” [1.5]
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1902] [124p] [Colección] [Parcialmente Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
A collection of 12 short stories by WW Jacobs, classical British writer of some renown, and mainly famous for being the author of “The Monkey's Paw.”
Another interesting mixed bag collection of sorts, with many Best, Good and Meh.
After reading that many short stories I can confidently say, at least from my experience, that WW Jacobs strong suit seems to be ‘Horror’. All my Best fall in that genre, while all other Good and Meh fall under the ‘Humor’ category. I don’t think it’s badly humorous, I’m sure many others could possibly find all these stories very funny and quite amusing; it’s just, sadly, not the type of humor that resonates strongly with me; most times. But they are still good, I think. I certainly did appreciate the ideas, simple, predictable and quirky as they were sometimes.
Go for the Best, consider the Good, whatever the Meh.
The Best :
★★★★☆ “The Well.” [4.5]
★★★★☆ “Three at Table.”
★★★★☆ “The Monkey's Paw.” [3.5]
The Good :
★★★☆☆ “The Lady of the Barge.” [3.5]
★★★☆☆ “Captain Rogers.”
★★★☆☆ “A Mixed Proposal.” [2.5]
★★★☆☆ “Bill's Paper Chase.” [2.5]
The Meh :
★★☆☆☆ “Cupboard Love.” [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “In the Library.” [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “An Adulteration Act.”
★★☆☆☆ “A Golden Venture.”
★☆☆☆☆ “A Tiger's Skin.” [1.5]
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1902] [124p] [Collection] [Partly Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
Limitate al terror, maestro.
Una colección de 12 cuentos de WW Jacobs, escritor clásico británico de cierto renombre, y principalmente famoso por ser el autor de “La Pata de Mono.”
Otra interesante colección de resultado mixto, con muchos Mejor, Bueno y Meh.
Después de leer tantas historias cortas, puedo decir con seguridad, al menos desde mi experiencia, que el punto fuerte de WW Jacobs parece ser el "Horror". Todos mis Mejores están en ese género, mientras que todos los demás Buenos y Meh caen en la categoría de "Humor". No creo que éste sea mal humor, estoy convencido que todas estas historias a muchos otros les podrían resultar muy graciosas y bastante divertidas; pero, lamentablemente, no es el tipo de humor que resuena fuerte conmigo; la mayoría de las veces. Pero igual creo que siguen siendo buenas. Ciertamente aprecié las ideas, por simples, predecibles y excéntricas que a veces fueran.
Ir por lo Mejor, considerar lo Bueno, loquesea lo Meh.
Lo Mejor :
★★★★☆ “El Pozo de Agua.” [4.5]
★★★★☆ “Tres en la Mesa.”
★★★★☆ “La Pata de Mono.” [3.5]
Lo Bueno :
★★★☆☆ “La Dama de la Barcaza.” [3.5]
★★★☆☆ “Capitán Rogers.”
★★★☆☆ “Una Propuesta Mixta.” [2.5]
★★★☆☆ “La Persecución de Papel de Bill.” [2.5]
Lo Meh :
★★☆☆☆ “Amor de Armario.” [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “En la Biblioteca.” [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “Un Acta de Adulteración.”
★★☆☆☆ “Una Empresa Dorada.”
★☆☆☆☆ “La Piel de un Tigre.” [1.5]
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1902] [124p] [Colección] [Parcialmente Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
October 23, 2022
This collection includes THE MONKEYS PAW, Jacobs' best remembered horror story. I wrote my very brief impressions and explanations of each story as I read the collection:
THE LADY OF THE BARGE THE LADY OF THE BARGE, Complete By W. W. JACOBS 1911 (I believe it may have originally been published in 1902)
A dozen stories of life and mild humor, romance, suspense, horror, tragedy, crime, greed, murder
THE LADY OF THE BARGE
Love, domestic turmoil and crises and in my opinion one of the weakest stories in the collection.
THE MONKEY'S PAW.
Suspense, horror, tragedy
BILL'S PAPER CHASE
Greed and duplicity
THE WELL
Love, blackmail and murder
CUPBOARD LOVE
An ex-policeman investigating a missing brooch is the subject of a trap. Mildly humorous.
IN THE LIBRARY
Greed, larceny, violence
CAPTAIN ROGERS
Old crimes, blackmail, death
A TIGER'S SKIN
Fear, terror, lies, scheming, theft
A MIXED PROPOSAL
Romance of a sort, trickery
AN ADULTERATION ACT
Passed out drunk, Shanghaied, solicitor, doctor, revenge and escape.
A GOLDEN VENTURE
Unexpected inheritance, surrounded by new "friends", gain and loss, outsmarted himself
THREE AT TABLE
The talk turns to ghosts, one man relates a tale claimed to be true but is the monster real?
A quote from the book which isn't directed at the reader but is certainly apt from a reader's point of view:
"He waved his huge gaunt hands. 'We're not going to lose you now we've got you,' he said, with a dry laugh. 'It's seldom we have company, and now we've got you we'll keep you."
THE LADY OF THE BARGE THE LADY OF THE BARGE, Complete By W. W. JACOBS 1911 (I believe it may have originally been published in 1902)
A dozen stories of life and mild humor, romance, suspense, horror, tragedy, crime, greed, murder
THE LADY OF THE BARGE
Love, domestic turmoil and crises and in my opinion one of the weakest stories in the collection.
THE MONKEY'S PAW.
Suspense, horror, tragedy
BILL'S PAPER CHASE
Greed and duplicity
THE WELL
Love, blackmail and murder
CUPBOARD LOVE
An ex-policeman investigating a missing brooch is the subject of a trap. Mildly humorous.
IN THE LIBRARY
Greed, larceny, violence
CAPTAIN ROGERS
Old crimes, blackmail, death
A TIGER'S SKIN
Fear, terror, lies, scheming, theft
A MIXED PROPOSAL
Romance of a sort, trickery
AN ADULTERATION ACT
Passed out drunk, Shanghaied, solicitor, doctor, revenge and escape.
A GOLDEN VENTURE
Unexpected inheritance, surrounded by new "friends", gain and loss, outsmarted himself
THREE AT TABLE
The talk turns to ghosts, one man relates a tale claimed to be true but is the monster real?
A quote from the book which isn't directed at the reader but is certainly apt from a reader's point of view:
"He waved his huge gaunt hands. 'We're not going to lose you now we've got you,' he said, with a dry laugh. 'It's seldom we have company, and now we've got you we'll keep you."
June 19, 2015
Short stories. Keep on trucking past the title story, "The Lady of the Barge", a tepid affair inexplicably chosen to lead the collection, and immediately thereafter you'll reach "The Monkey's Paw", the finest the horror genre has to offer. The rest of the stories are mostly excellent, and run the gamut between horror, mystery, and romantic comedy (the best generally in the earlier two genres). I have particular fondness for...
Captain Rogers - an innkeeper is blackmailed by an old shipmate.
Three at Table - a sailor dines with a mystery
The Well - not giving that one away!
Gutenberg's version is finely illustrated by Maurice Greiffenhagen, who achieved a moderate amount of fame as a commercial artist (I recognized some of his work.)
4.8/5 Available on Gutenberg.
Captain Rogers - an innkeeper is blackmailed by an old shipmate.
Three at Table - a sailor dines with a mystery
The Well - not giving that one away!
Gutenberg's version is finely illustrated by Maurice Greiffenhagen, who achieved a moderate amount of fame as a commercial artist (I recognized some of his work.)
4.8/5 Available on Gutenberg.
October 29, 2021
Racconti efficaci, con spunti interessanti.
I personaggi rappresentati raccontano varie sfumature della natura umana. Ovviamente bisogna tenere conto dell’epoca in cui sono stati scritti e del contesto per poterci entrare appieno. Non mi hanno entusiasmato in maniera totalitaria per questo le 4 stelle. Ma comunque ottima lettura autunnale.
I personaggi rappresentati raccontano varie sfumature della natura umana. Ovviamente bisogna tenere conto dell’epoca in cui sono stati scritti e del contesto per poterci entrare appieno. Non mi hanno entusiasmato in maniera totalitaria per questo le 4 stelle. Ma comunque ottima lettura autunnale.
April 4, 2020
I liked these stories. They offer interesting characters and a refined sense of human nature and relations. The Monkey’s Paw is definitely horror!
June 12, 2021
𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚘:
La Zampa di Scimmia e Tre al tavolo
𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚎:
Questo libro si presenta, come già detto, in una raccolta di racconti. Di tutti quelli presenti all'interno per la maggioranza mi sono piaciuti mentre alcuni non li ho proprio apprezzati. Quando ho letto la trama sapevo già cosa aspettarmi e le mie aspettative non sono state deluse. Troviamo infatti un ottimo bilanciamento tra storie di paura e storie dalla risata facile. Sicuramente è stata una lettura molto piacevole che rifarò in futuro. Non ho molto da dire apparte che è un buon libro e che va letto altrimenti faccio spoiler. C'è una prevalenza di descrizioni sui dialoghi che sinceramente ho trovato soddisfacente per le varie trame narrate. Lo consiglierei? Assolutamente si, una lettura piacevole che consiglio di affrontare ad Ottobre e di leggere di notte per assaggiare un brivido maggiore.
Racconti piaciuti di più:
La Zampa di Scimmia e Tre al tavolo
-
Curiosità:
all'interno del libro c'è un racconto "La zampa di Scimmia" che ha ispirato molti altri racconti, tra i quali "Pet Sementary" di Stephen King.
La Zampa di Scimmia e Tre al tavolo
𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚎:
Questo libro si presenta, come già detto, in una raccolta di racconti. Di tutti quelli presenti all'interno per la maggioranza mi sono piaciuti mentre alcuni non li ho proprio apprezzati. Quando ho letto la trama sapevo già cosa aspettarmi e le mie aspettative non sono state deluse. Troviamo infatti un ottimo bilanciamento tra storie di paura e storie dalla risata facile. Sicuramente è stata una lettura molto piacevole che rifarò in futuro. Non ho molto da dire apparte che è un buon libro e che va letto altrimenti faccio spoiler. C'è una prevalenza di descrizioni sui dialoghi che sinceramente ho trovato soddisfacente per le varie trame narrate. Lo consiglierei? Assolutamente si, una lettura piacevole che consiglio di affrontare ad Ottobre e di leggere di notte per assaggiare un brivido maggiore.
Racconti piaciuti di più:
La Zampa di Scimmia e Tre al tavolo
-
Curiosità:
all'interno del libro c'è un racconto "La zampa di Scimmia" che ha ispirato molti altri racconti, tra i quali "Pet Sementary" di Stephen King.
April 5, 2020
Okay, I just had a hard time adjusting to the writing style. This is no fault of the author. I get that it was typical language of the time it was written. I just struggle to get involved in such stories which is why I hesitated to even review this book. Some stories were better than others. Lady on the Barge was amusing, Monkey's Paw - the reason I got the book- is a great classic horror tale and likely the best of the bunch. It is worth reading for fans of 19th century books. Included are a variety of amusing and creepy stories. Worth checking out just for Monkey's Paw.
February 7, 2021
I racconti sono davvero particolari e interessanti e spaziano dall'horror al divertente, dal surreale all'assurdo dandoti una serie di piccoli mondi che non vedi l'ora di esplorare.
Il problema è la traduzione. Io di norma non tengo sotto l'originale per controllare se la traduzione è fatta bene, ma leggendo te ne accorgi da solo perché certi passaggi non quadrano con il contesto, lo senti che qualcosa non va, la lettura diventa poco scorrevole (e non perché il testo sia difficile di per sè, ci sarebbero state tante soluzioni alternative da adottare) e questo rovina decisamente il tutto.
Il problema è la traduzione. Io di norma non tengo sotto l'originale per controllare se la traduzione è fatta bene, ma leggendo te ne accorgi da solo perché certi passaggi non quadrano con il contesto, lo senti che qualcosa non va, la lettura diventa poco scorrevole (e non perché il testo sia difficile di per sè, ci sarebbero state tante soluzioni alternative da adottare) e questo rovina decisamente il tutto.
June 5, 2021
Recensione de “La dama della chiatta e altri racconti” di William W. Jacobs edito Abeditore
I libri pubblicati da Abeditore sono ormai un appuntamento fisso.
12 racconti brevi di genere horror-fantastico ma anche umoristici che vi porteranno in situazioni insolite.
Alcuni vi faranno sorridere, altri riflettere, altri ancora vi faranno guardare alle spalle e sobbalzare al minimo rumore.
Un classico della letteratura inglese da non lasciarsi sfuggire.
I libri pubblicati da Abeditore sono ormai un appuntamento fisso.
12 racconti brevi di genere horror-fantastico ma anche umoristici che vi porteranno in situazioni insolite.
Alcuni vi faranno sorridere, altri riflettere, altri ancora vi faranno guardare alle spalle e sobbalzare al minimo rumore.
Un classico della letteratura inglese da non lasciarsi sfuggire.
March 17, 2022
Entertaining listening 🔰😀
Twelve will written British romantic relationship adventure thrillers short stories by W. W. Jacobs about friends, relationships, romance, and seafaring adventures. I listened to these as individual novellas with Alexa reading to me due to eye damage and issues they are interesting and fun about people. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to different types of novels 🔰🏰😃👑 2022
Twelve will written British romantic relationship adventure thrillers short stories by W. W. Jacobs about friends, relationships, romance, and seafaring adventures. I listened to these as individual novellas with Alexa reading to me due to eye damage and issues they are interesting and fun about people. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to different types of novels 🔰🏰😃👑 2022
January 13, 2023
Il libro è una raccolta di racconti di W. W. Jacobs, scritti all'inizio del 1900 ("La dama della chiatta" è stato scritto nel 1902).
Sono racconti di generi diversi, alcuni leggeri e divertenti, altri che invece possono essere definiti horror; uno di questi ultimi, "La zampa di scimmia", pare che abbia ispirato Stephen King nella stesura di "Pet Sematary".
Lettura piacevole e veloce, un classico alla portata di tutti.
Sono racconti di generi diversi, alcuni leggeri e divertenti, altri che invece possono essere definiti horror; uno di questi ultimi, "La zampa di scimmia", pare che abbia ispirato Stephen King nella stesura di "Pet Sematary".
Lettura piacevole e veloce, un classico alla portata di tutti.
October 19, 2025
Some great spooky stories in this collection - weird though that the collection is named after a story that isn't actually one of the best ones in this bunch - the title story is a bit naff, to me, based around a couple of men trying to seduce a young lady on a barge - there are a couple in this vein but on the whole the collection is very good and the spookier ones are definitely the better ones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2020
I read it for The Monkey's Paw... A tv movie that scared the he'll out of my forty some years ago. The story was not quite up to my childhood memory. The stories in the selection were fair to good which is something I usually don't say about short story selections.
October 13, 2024
La dama della chiatta ***
La mano di scimmia *****
La caccia di Bill *** e 1/2
Il pozzo ****
Cupboard love ***
In Biblioteca ****
Capitano Rogers ****
La pelle di tigre ***
Una proposta per due ***
Un'adulterazione *** e 1/2
Un'impresa imperfetta ***
Tre al tavolo *** e 1/2
*** e 1/2
La mano di scimmia *****
La caccia di Bill *** e 1/2
Il pozzo ****
Cupboard love ***
In Biblioteca ****
Capitano Rogers ****
La pelle di tigre ***
Una proposta per due ***
Un'adulterazione *** e 1/2
Un'impresa imperfetta ***
Tre al tavolo *** e 1/2
*** e 1/2
April 24, 2021
* * *.5
June 11, 2021
I enjoyed the Monkey’s paw but most of the other stories were very forgettable.
August 22, 2021
Pretty good batch of simple short stories. Few are notable beyond The Monkey's Paw but none were uninteresting. Had a decent variety of styles and genres as well.
September 7, 2021
Il genere di racconti che mi piace leggere. Alcuni sono esilaranti!
February 2, 2025
Monkey’s paw on top
December 30, 2022
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck0YUFfIY...
"𝑨 𝒗𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒃𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒛𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒊𝒎𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒂 [...] 𝒖𝒏 𝒗𝒆𝒄𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒐 𝒍'𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒗𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒂. 𝑼𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒕'𝒖𝒐𝒎𝒐. 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆' 𝒈𝒊𝒂' 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒐 𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒊 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒂 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐 𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒂 𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒛𝒆"
[...] "𝑬 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆' 𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒍𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊?"
"𝑳'𝒉𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒐", 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒂, 𝒆 𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒖𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒊'.
Una lettura molto piacevole, che ci porta attraverso questi dodici racconti a passare dalla fantasia più inquietante, a momenti di quasi ilarità per la furbizia dei personaggi.
La citazione che ho scelto arriva dal racconto più famoso, ovvero "La Zampa di Scimmia". Sicuramente avrete visto anche solo per caso, almeno una volta, una delle innumerevoli citazioni che ne sono state fatte. Un racconto che sfiora l'orrore, in un modo così elegante da colpire l3 lettor3.
La maledizione della Zampa è esaudire i desideri, ma mai come un3 potrebbe pensare. Contorto, interessante, fa riflettere molto e sicuramente resta nella memoria.
Ho scelto di parlare di questo racconto perché è quello più famoso e che mi ha colpito maggiormente, ma gli altri (seppur lievemente inferiori, per mio gusto) sono altrettanto interessanti.
Ne fanno parte altri 11 racconti:
▪️La Dama Della Chiatta
▪️La Caccia Di Bill
▪️Il Pozzo
▪️Un Amore Segreto
▪️In Biblioteca
▪️Capitan Rogers
▪️La Pelle di Tigre
▪️Una Proposta per Due
▪️Un'Adulterazione
▪️Un'Impresa Perfetta
▪️Tre Al Tavolo
Storie che mescolano la furbizia umana, alcune con tocchi di violenza, altre che sfiorano la dolcezza.
Secondo me potrebbe esser letto da chiunque. Ci sono alcune storie con un tocco di orrore, ma se non affrontate nel buio, credo che possano essere lette senza particolari problemi.
Come sempre, la CE porta racconti e romanzi praticamente introvabili, con una grafica stupenda e un prezzo abbordabile. Come sempre, la CE porta racconti e romanzi praticamente introvabili, con una grafica stupenda e un prezzo abbordabile.
"𝑨 𝒗𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒃𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒛𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒊𝒎𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒂 [...] 𝒖𝒏 𝒗𝒆𝒄𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒐 𝒍'𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒗𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒂. 𝑼𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒕'𝒖𝒐𝒎𝒐. 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆' 𝒈𝒊𝒂' 𝒔𝒆𝒈𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒐 𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒊 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒂 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐 𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒂 𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒛𝒆"
[...] "𝑬 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆' 𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒍𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊?"
"𝑳'𝒉𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒐", 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒂, 𝒆 𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒖𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒊'.
Una lettura molto piacevole, che ci porta attraverso questi dodici racconti a passare dalla fantasia più inquietante, a momenti di quasi ilarità per la furbizia dei personaggi.
La citazione che ho scelto arriva dal racconto più famoso, ovvero "La Zampa di Scimmia". Sicuramente avrete visto anche solo per caso, almeno una volta, una delle innumerevoli citazioni che ne sono state fatte. Un racconto che sfiora l'orrore, in un modo così elegante da colpire l3 lettor3.
La maledizione della Zampa è esaudire i desideri, ma mai come un3 potrebbe pensare. Contorto, interessante, fa riflettere molto e sicuramente resta nella memoria.
Ho scelto di parlare di questo racconto perché è quello più famoso e che mi ha colpito maggiormente, ma gli altri (seppur lievemente inferiori, per mio gusto) sono altrettanto interessanti.
Ne fanno parte altri 11 racconti:
▪️La Dama Della Chiatta
▪️La Caccia Di Bill
▪️Il Pozzo
▪️Un Amore Segreto
▪️In Biblioteca
▪️Capitan Rogers
▪️La Pelle di Tigre
▪️Una Proposta per Due
▪️Un'Adulterazione
▪️Un'Impresa Perfetta
▪️Tre Al Tavolo
Storie che mescolano la furbizia umana, alcune con tocchi di violenza, altre che sfiorano la dolcezza.
Secondo me potrebbe esser letto da chiunque. Ci sono alcune storie con un tocco di orrore, ma se non affrontate nel buio, credo che possano essere lette senza particolari problemi.
Come sempre, la CE porta racconti e romanzi praticamente introvabili, con una grafica stupenda e un prezzo abbordabile. Come sempre, la CE porta racconti e romanzi praticamente introvabili, con una grafica stupenda e un prezzo abbordabile.
February 10, 2011
If you are looking for a comprehensive review of this book, then look elsewhere. I simply wanted to share the story behind why I read this book. Long ago, someone gave me one of those "On This Day in History" booklets for my birthday. It contained interesting information about important events that occured on that day, including a list of famous people who shared my birthday. Among them was W.W. Jacobs, author of the famous short story "The Monkey's Paw." So naturally I went out looking for a collection of Jacobs' short stories that included "The Monkey's Paw," and I'm glad I did. If you like E.A. Poe, then you will like W.W. Jacobs.
January 30, 2014
As is the case with short story collections, I liked some more than others and rarely feel particularly excited about all of them, but this collection came close! I found the language to be interesting, as the author was born in 1863 and was still writing and publishing in the 20th century, his style and word choice was as much 19th century as it was reminiscent of the style used in the 20th century. This provided an interesting, albeit subtle, difference from the one story to the next.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys classic stories of mystery, the macabre, and an often humorous take on the foibles of being a human being!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys classic stories of mystery, the macabre, and an often humorous take on the foibles of being a human being!
November 21, 2012
W.W. Jacobs is primarily known for the celebrated short story "The Monkey's Paw." It used to be very difficult to find anything else by him but, as his work is all in public domain, his fiction is now easily available on Amazon on free e-books. Most of his other short stories are light tales about the misadventures of not too bright sailors. This earlier collection contains not only "The Monkey's Paw" but other serious pieces, such as "The Well" and "Three at Table." Even the light stories are among his better ones, in my opinion. The weakest piece for me was the title story.
August 24, 2013
A collection of twelve short stories, unlike most such collections from Jacobs only about half are comic and only two or three of these feature his usual disreputable sailors. The collection features his most famous story "The monkey's paw" which is certainly not a comic sailor story, it's one of those three wishes stories where the protagonists seem to be very poor at wording their wishes (after the first has gone wrong!)
July 24, 2019
Fantastic! Some nice tales of working life in days gone by.
Overall you've got three types of short story here: ghost stories, tales of straight forward working people and their everyday lives and tales which celebrate the village idiot in rural settings (who may not be quite the idiot everyone thinks he is).
Easy to read stories, told very well, which invoke the spirit of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories although they have nothing in common except the period in which they take place.
Overall you've got three types of short story here: ghost stories, tales of straight forward working people and their everyday lives and tales which celebrate the village idiot in rural settings (who may not be quite the idiot everyone thinks he is).
Easy to read stories, told very well, which invoke the spirit of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories although they have nothing in common except the period in which they take place.
October 13, 2015
The Monkey's Paw is a great classic, that nowadays may seem to contain a repeated plot, but in the epoch it set a precedent that has been overused, for the good quality of the tale and the great pace. The other tales are not a match.
December 26, 2021
The Lady of the Barge - 4/5
The Monkey's Paw - 3,5/5
Bill's Paper Chase - 3/5
The Well - 4/5
Cupboard Love - 4/5
In the Library - 4/5
Captain Rogers - 4/5
A Tiger's Skin - 3/5
A Mixed Proposal - 5/5
An Adulteration Act - 5/5
A Golden Venture - 5/5
Three at Table - 3/5
The Monkey's Paw - 3,5/5
Bill's Paper Chase - 3/5
The Well - 4/5
Cupboard Love - 4/5
In the Library - 4/5
Captain Rogers - 4/5
A Tiger's Skin - 3/5
A Mixed Proposal - 5/5
An Adulteration Act - 5/5
A Golden Venture - 5/5
Three at Table - 3/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2013
Nice collection of stories. Some dark, some funny and some heart-warming.
April 12, 2015
An enjoyable book of short stories. I started reading it because of The Monkey's Paw, which is still my favorite, but the other short stories were interesting and it was overall a pleasant read.
Want to read
February 4, 2020Synopsis: a collection of several short stories including one of the greatest horror stories ever written, The Monkey's Paw.
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