Short Cruises

"Short Cruises" by W. W. Jacobs is a compilation of funny, short tales that looks at common folks and the troubles they find themselves in. The stories poke fun at human behavior and how we act in society. The first story introduces George Henshaw, who goes through funny and tricky situations because of married life problems and mix-ups. Right from the start, we see Mr. Henshaw coming home to a frosty dinner with his wife, who thinks he's been cheating. Their conversations show just how delicate and amusing their relationship is, as Mr. Henshaw stumbles over himself trying to explain things while she gets angrier. When he asks his friend Ted Stokes for advice, things get even more ridiculous, as they come up with a plan for Mr. Henshaw to pretend to be someone else to get away from his wife's anger. This sets the stage for a mix of comedy and thoughts on society, as readers enjoy Jacobs' clever writing and interesting stories.