The Monkey's Paw (The Monkey's Paw Trilogy)

The Monkey's Paw (The Monkey's Paw Trilogy)

<b>~ Top 50 book in horror (United Kingdom, July 2012)</b><br /><br />Great short stories are a bit of a trap, delighting and provoking and then as suddenly ending. The final lines are often bittersweet and one cannot help but think, "I wish there were more." <br /><br />W. W. Jacobs's macabre classic "The Monkey's Paw" is such a tale. Readers new to his chilling story, and even salty veterans, can now have their wish for more tellings of the monkey's paw granted. <br /><br /><i>The Monkey's Paw Trilogy</i> is a devious novel comprised of three stories about the paw and those who come to use it. Readers will finally learn the mystery behind how Sergeant Morris came to possess the paw, and, as astonishingly, why the man who bequeathed it to him chose to use his final wish to end his own life! <br /><br />In all, nine wishes are granted -or are they merely bizarre coincidences- by the mysterious monkey's paw. Book purchasers will travel to exotic India with spirited soldier William Brady who brings the mummified talisman to his army barracks intent on playing a hearty joke on his fellow brothers in arms. The laughter, however, soon turns to terror and eventually to horrible death. Newly appointed sergeant, Miles Seamus Morris, is witness to William Brady's demise and irrepressibly assumes possession of the soldier's journal and the paw. Sergeant Morris carries the latter with him into the earth-scarring trenches which designate the fighting Front in France. As one may imagine, having a talisman in reach while the gruesome events of battle unfold leads to eventual temptation. How the paw delivers Miles's wishes can only be learned in the devilish folds of <i>The Monkey's Paw Trilogy</i>.<br /><br />There's more!<br /><br />Included in this work is a brief biography of W. W. Jacobs, a carefully reworked version of "The Monkey's Paw", and two original stories, "The Monkey's Tale" and "The Monkey's Claw". There are also lengthy author notes and a set of nine questions for use in a classroom or among book club members.<br /><br />Table of Contents<br /><br />Title page<br />Dedication<br />Letter to the Reader<br />Acknowledgments page<br />Author Foreword<br /><br /><b>Prologue<br />The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs w/ additions by Ralph Lagana, Jr.<br />The Monkey's Tale<br />The Monkey's Claw<br />Epilogue</b><br /><br />Biography of W. W. Jacobs<br />Author's Notes<br />Discussion Questions<br />About the Author<br />Websites<br />Author Contact