The Grey Parrot and Other Stories

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. Contains: 'A Love Passage', 'The Skipper of the Osprey', 'Rule of Three', 'An Intervention', 'The Grey Parrot', 'Twin Spirits', 'Sam's Boy', 'A Will and a Way', 'Jerry Bundler', 'The Peacemaker', 'The Monkey's Paw', 'The Well', 'Cupboard Love', 'In the Library', 'Captain Rogers', 'A Mixed Proposal', 'An Adulteration Act', 'Blundell's Improvement', 'Bill's Lapse', 'The Persecution of Bob Pretty', 'The Third String', 'Captains All', 'The Boatswain's Mate', 'The Changeling', 'Mixed Relations', 'His Lordship', 'Her Uncle', 'Matrimonial Openings', 'The Toll House', 'Head of the Family', 'Fairy Gold', 'Watchdogs', 'The Bequest', 'Back to Back', 'Keeping Watch', 'Stepping Backwards', 'The Three Sisters', 'The Vigil', 'Easy Money', 'Made to Measure' and 'Husbandry'. With an introduction by Nicholas Jacobs.