The Unknown by W. W. Jacobs (1843)
The story follows a young man named Tom, who is a sailor on a merchant ship. One day, while out at sea, Tom spots a strange figure in the water. He dives in to save the figure, only to discover that it is a mermaid. Tom takes the mermaid back to his ship, where the crew is amazed by her beauty. They decide to keep her on board and treat her as one of their own. Tom and the mermaid soon fall in love, and the crew is happy for them. But when the ship reaches port, the mermaid disappears. Tom is heartbroken, and he sets out to find her. He eventually discovers that the mermaid is a princess from a distant kingdom, and that she has been cursed to live in the sea. Tom must now find a way to break the curse and free the mermaid from her fate. The Unknown is a classic tale of love and adventure, and it is sure to captivate readers of all ages.
By W. W. Jacobs · First published 1843 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Fantasy · 4,083 words
First lines
"Handsome is as 'andsome does," said the night-watchman. It's an old saying, but it's true. Give a chap good looks, and it's precious little else that is given to 'im. He's lucky when 'is good looks 'ave gorn -- or partly gorn -- to get a berth as night-watchman or some other hard and bad-paid job.
One drawback to a good-looking man is that he generally marries young; not because 'e wants to, but because somebody else wants 'im to. And that ain't the worst of it: the handsomest chap I ever knew married five times, and got seven years for it. It wasn't his fault, pore chap; he simply couldn't say No.
What this Textopian page supports
The Unknown is listed on Textopian as a novel by W. W. Jacobs, dated 1843 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: W. W. Jacobs
- Date: 1843 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Fantasy, Gothic Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 4,083 words
- Structure: 1 section, 124 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Unknown by W. W. Jacobs
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Unknown?
- How does this novel by W. W. Jacobs fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Keeping Watch by W. W. Jacobs
- Easy Money by W. W. Jacobs
- His Other Self by W. W. Jacobs
- Good Intentions by W. W. Jacobs
- Husbandry by W. W. Jacobs
- Deserted by W. W. Jacobs
Genres
- Horror — The Unknown is a horror story about a man who is haunted by a mysterious figure.
- Mystery — The Unknown is a mystery story as the protagonist attempts to uncover the identity of the mysterious figure.
- Fantasy — The Unknown contains elements of fantasy as the protagonist is confronted by a supernatural figure.
- Gothic Fiction — The Unknown contains elements of gothic fiction as it features a mysterious figure and a dark atmosphere.
Tags
Humorous stories · Short stories · afore · agin · arter · blue · deck · dorothy · evening · eyes · fust · gal