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Stepping backwards [Night watches, Part 5.]: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Stepping backwards [Night watches, Part 5.]: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Published by Pop Culture Files••2 min read•Automatically generated · review not guaranteed
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Stepping backwards [Night watches, Part 5.] is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark) (1863–1943).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Stepping Backwards" by W. W. Jacobs is a humorous short story set in the early 20th century. It follows the light-hearted premise of a man who, seeking to rejuvenate his appearance, undergoes a dramatic change that results in amusing misunderstandings and mistaken identity with his wife. The story explores themes of perception, identity, and the sometimes humorous outcomes of drastic personal changes. In the narrative, Mr. Simpson undergoes a transformation, having his white hair and beard shaved and dyed black. When he returns home, his wife, Mrs. Simpson, fails to recognize him, leading to a comical series of events where friends are drawn into the mix, adding to the chaos. Mr. Mills, a mutual friend, attempts to help Mr. Simpson's case by discussing his changes with Mrs. Simpson, but instead, it only escalates the confusion. Ultimately, the story blends humor with social commentary on how appearance can affect personal relationships, culminating in a scenario where Mr. Simpson must prove his identity, all while navigating his wife's disbelief and the interference of their acquaintances.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Stepping backwards [Night watches, Part 5.]
  • Author credits: Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark) (1863–1943)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Humorous stories
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: British Literature
  • Category: Humour
  • Category: Short Stories

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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