The vigil [Night watches, Part 8.]: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The vigil [Night watches, Part 8.]: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The vigil [Night watches, Part 8.] 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:
"The Vigil" by W. W. Jacobs is a comedic short story written in the early 20th century. Set in a domestic environment, it explores themes of courage, familial expectations, and the humorous misunderstandings that arise from them. The narrative centers around the rivalry between Mr. Farrer, a timid yet determined suitor, and the authoritative ex-sergeant-major Ward, who disapproves of Farrer’s courting of his daughter and challenges him to prove his bravery. The story unfolds as Mr. Farrer attempts to win the approval of Miss Ward’s overbearing father by daring to spend a night in a supposedly haunted cottage. The sergeant-major, hoping to expose Farrer’s cowardice, secretly follows him with a more frightening agenda, dressed in his wife's nightgown to frighten the young man. However, events take a comedic turn as Farrer, unbeknownst to the sergeant-major, encounters a series of strange occurrences that lead to escalating anxieties and misunderstandings. The climax reveals their amusing roles, ultimately highlighting the absurdity of their rivalry for the respect of one another, while also poking fun at the nature of bravado and the lengths one might go to for love.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The vigil [Night watches, Part 8.]
- 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
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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.


