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The Grey Parrot

and Other Stories

WW Jacobs , Intro. Nicholas Jacobs

Well reflecting WW Jacobs’ delight in finding humour in everyday situations and showcasing short stories spanning his writing career, this collection includes a narrative in which a suspicious sailor buys a parrot for his wife in the hope it will repeat any untoward happenings, a cautionary ‘three wishes’ tale that seamlessly blends wit with horror, and tightly woven accounts of poaching adventures in Essex.

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RRP £8.99

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Product information:
  • Publisher: Alma
  • Year: 2019
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 444pp
  • Illustrated: No
  • Dimensions: 197x127mm
  • ISBN: 9781847497895
  • Condition: New
  • Weight: 0.4kg
Product code:
541179
Product information
Full publisher description
W.W. Jacobs delighted in finding unlikely humour in everyday situations and observations, and these tales succeed in raising a laugh from the most mundane of scenarios. In 'The Grey Parrot', a sailor buys a parrot for his wife, whom he suspects isn't faithful in his absence, hoping that the bird will inadvertently repeat anything untoward it hears. Unfortunately for him, the parrot exceeds his expectations, and it's not only his wife who is left blushing.

This volume contains a careful selection of the very best stories from Jacobs's 150-strong repertory, and includes well-known standalone pieces such as 'The Monkey's Paw', as well as accounts of raucous dockside dalliances and tightly woven tales of poacher Bob Petty's crimes against the unlikely cast of an Essex village. Showcasing a unique assortment of stories spanning his writing career, this edition hopes to shine a light on a hugely talented writer who inspired many of the literary giants we now consider masters of the genre.
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