Keeping Up Appearances by W. W. Jacobs

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About this eBook

Author Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark), 1863-1943
Illustrator Owen, Will, 1869-1957
Title Keeping Up Appearances
Sailor's Knots, Part 12.
Note Reading ease score: 88.7 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Credits Produced by David Widger
Summary "Keeping Up Appearances" by W. W. Jacobs is a comedic short story written in the early 20th century. The narrative explores themes of superstition and social circumstances through the life of Bill Burtenshaw, a sailor turned husband whose life is marked by his struggles with alcoholism. The story cleverly encapsulates human nature—specifically, the lengths to which one might go to fabricate a plan to maintain social appearances and personal dignity. The plot centers around Bill Burtenshaw, who has promised to his old friend Silas Winch, that the first one to die would appear to the other as a ghost. After a series of unfortunate events involving his drinking problem, Silas visits Bill in a spectral guise to warn him against alcohol. While Mrs. Burtenshaw becomes embroiled in the deception, the story culminates in a humorous twist where Bill vows to mend his ways and uphold a promise of support to Silas's widow, unwittingly entangling himself in a new web of deception. The interplay of ghostly apparitions, comical misunderstandings, and the human proclivity for self-deception provides a lighthearted yet poignant commentary on the folly of maintaining appearances amidst personal struggles. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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. 10792
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Dec 20, 2020
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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