Odd Craft By: W. W. Jacobs (1863-1943)
Odd Craft by W.W. Jacobs is a collection of short stories that delves into the eccentricities and peculiarities of human nature. Through a series of enthralling tales, the author explores the often bizarre yet captivating lives of his characters. Jacobs showcases his mastery of storytelling through his ability to create vivid and lively characters. Each tale introduces us to a new assortment of individuals, all with their own quirks, idiosyncrasies, and obsessions. From a man who is convinced that his moustache holds mystical powers to a homeowner who becomes infatuated with a peculiar set of curtains, the author presents an array of offbeat personalities that will keep readers entertained from start to finish. What sets Odd Craft apart from other collections of short stories is the author's skillful ability to fuse humor and satire with relatable human experiences. Jacobs cleverly weaves comedy into his narratives, often through absurd situations that highlight the hilarity of human foibles. In doing so, he invites readers to reflect on their own peculiarities, reminding us that our quirks and eccentricities are what make us human. Moreover, the book provides a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural landscape of early 20th century England. Through the eyes of his characters, Jacobs vividly portrays the everyday struggles, aspirations, and desires of the working class, thereby offering a valuable insight into the era. While the stories are light-hearted and amusing, they also touch upon deeper themes such as love, ambition, and the importance of personal identity. One of the standout qualities of this collection is the author's knack for surprise endings. Just when readers think they have the story figured out, Jacobs subverts their expectations, leaving them pleasantly shocked. This element of unpredictability adds an enjoyable twist to each narrative, keeping readers engaged and eager to discover what lies around the corner. Despite its age, Odd Craft remains timeless in its appeal. The stories transcend the era in which they were written, emphasizing the universal nature of human quirks and the never-ending absurdity of life. Jacobs' masterful storytelling and interweaving of humor and satire make this collection a joy to read for all lovers of literature. In conclusion, Odd Craft is an enchanting collection of short stories that captivates readers with its colorful characters, humorous situations, and unexpected twists. W.W. Jacobs' ability to blend satire, social commentary, and entertainment into a single volume is a testament to his literary prowess. This book is a testament to the enduring allure of human eccentricities and the power of laughter to navigate life's oddities. First Page: ODD CRAFT BY W. W. JACOBS 1909 Contents: THE MONEY BOX THE CASTAWAY BLUNDELL'S IMPROVEMENT BILL'S LAPSE LAWYER QUINCE BREAKING A SPELL ESTABLISHING RELATIONS THE CHANGING NUMBERS THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY DIXON'S RETURN A SPIRIT OF AVARICE THE THIRD STRING ODD CHARGES ADMIRAL PETERS THE MONEY BOX Sailormen are not good 'ands at saving money as a rule, said the night watchman, as he wistfully toyed with a bad shilling on his watch chain, though to 'ear 'em talk of saving when they're at sea and there isn't a pub within a thousand miles of 'em, you might think different. [Illustration: "Sailormen are not good 'ands at saving money as a rule."] It ain't for the want of trying either with some of 'em, and I've known men do all sorts o' things as soon as they was paid off, with a view to saving. I knew one man as used to keep all but a shilling or two in a belt next to 'is skin so that he couldn't get at it easy, but it was all no good. He was always running short in the most inconvenient places. I've seen 'im wriggle for five minutes right off, with a tramcar conductor standing over 'im and the other people in the tram reading their papers with one eye and watching him with the other. Ginger Dick and Peter Russet two men I've spoke of to you afore tried to save their money once... Continue reading book >>

Odd Craft By: W. W. Jacobs (1863-1943)

Odd Craft by W.W. Jacobs is a collection of short stories that delves into the eccentricities and peculiarities of human nature. Through a series of enthralling tales, the author explores the often bizarre yet captivating lives of his characters.

Jacobs showcases his mastery of storytelling through his ability to create vivid and lively characters. Each tale introduces us to a new assortment of individuals, all with their own quirks, idiosyncrasies, and obsessions. From a man who is convinced that his moustache holds mystical powers to a homeowner who becomes infatuated with a peculiar set of curtains, the author presents an array of offbeat personalities that will keep readers entertained from start to finish.

What sets Odd Craft apart from other collections of short stories is the author's skillful ability to fuse humor and satire with relatable human experiences. Jacobs cleverly weaves comedy into his narratives, often through absurd situations that highlight the hilarity of human foibles. In doing so, he invites readers to reflect on their own peculiarities, reminding us that our quirks and eccentricities are what make us human.

Moreover, the book provides a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural landscape of early 20th century England. Through the eyes of his characters, Jacobs vividly portrays the everyday struggles, aspirations, and desires of the working class, thereby offering a valuable insight into the era. While the stories are light-hearted and amusing, they also touch upon deeper themes such as love, ambition, and the importance of personal identity.

One of the standout qualities of this collection is the author's knack for surprise endings. Just when readers think they have the story figured out, Jacobs subverts their expectations, leaving them pleasantly shocked. This element of unpredictability adds an enjoyable twist to each narrative, keeping readers engaged and eager to discover what lies around the corner.

Despite its age, Odd Craft remains timeless in its appeal. The stories transcend the era in which they were written, emphasizing the universal nature of human quirks and the never-ending absurdity of life. Jacobs' masterful storytelling and interweaving of humor and satire make this collection a joy to read for all lovers of literature.

In conclusion, Odd Craft is an enchanting collection of short stories that captivates readers with its colorful characters, humorous situations, and unexpected twists. W.W. Jacobs' ability to blend satire, social commentary, and entertainment into a single volume is a testament to his literary prowess. This book is a testament to the enduring allure of human eccentricities and the power of laughter to navigate life's oddities.

First Page:

ODD CRAFT

W. W. JACOBS

1909

Contents:

THE MONEY BOX

THE CASTAWAY

BLUNDELL'S IMPROVEMENT

BILL'S LAPSE

LAWYER QUINCE

BREAKING A SPELL

ESTABLISHING RELATIONS

THE CHANGING NUMBERS

THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY

DIXON'S RETURN

A SPIRIT OF AVARICE

THE THIRD STRING

ODD CHARGES

ADMIRAL PETERS

THE MONEY BOX

Sailormen are not good 'ands at saving money as a rule, said the night watchman, as he wistfully toyed with a bad shilling on his watch chain, though to 'ear 'em talk of saving when they're at sea and there isn't a pub within a thousand miles of 'em, you might think different.

[Illustration: "Sailormen are not good 'ands at saving money as a rule."]

It ain't for the want of trying either with some of 'em, and I've known men do all sorts o' things as soon as they was paid off, with a view to saving. I knew one man as used to keep all but a shilling or two in a belt next to 'is skin so that he couldn't get at it easy, but it was all no good. He was always running short in the most inconvenient places. I've seen 'im wriggle for five minutes right off, with a tramcar conductor standing over 'im and the other people in the tram reading their papers with one eye and watching him with the other.

Ginger Dick and Peter Russet two men I've spoke of to you afore tried to save their money once... Continue reading book >>

Genres for this book
Fiction
Humor
Literature
Sea stories

eBook links
Wikipedia – W. W. Jacobs
Wikipedia – Odd Craft

eBook Downloads
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader	Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser	Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac