Self-Help by W. W. Jacobs
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"Self-Help" by W. W. Jacobs is a humorous short story written in the early 20th century. The narrative revolves around the life of a night-watchman and his misadventures, highlighting themes of kindness and the unexpected consequences that often follow attempts to help others. The story offers a light-hearted critique of human nature and the folly of altruism, particularly in the working-class context of the time. The storyline centers on the watchman's reflections
as he grapples with physical discomforts and the concept of kindness. He shares anecdotes involving his friends, focusing on Sam Small, who becomes involved in a dubious scheme to catch thieves targeting sailors. Sam is tricked into believing he will help the police by pretending to be drunk, leading to a comical turn of events where he ends up defending himself against his own friends, who conspire to rob him as part of the ruse. The tale culminates in a clash of personalities and mistaken intentions, ultimately showcasing the folly of assuming that kindness will be met with gratitude. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark), 1863-1943 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Owen, Will, 1869-1957 |
| Title |
Self-Help Sailor's Knots, Part 3. |
| Credits | Produced by David Widger |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 88.7 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Humorous stories, English |
| Subject | England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 10783 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-10783-7 |
| Release Date | Jan 1, 2004 |
| Last Update | Oct 28, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 544 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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