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Selected Short Stories by O. Henry
A prolific American short story writer, O.Henry was a master of surprise endings. Typical for his stories is a twist of plot which turns on an ironic or coincidental circumstance.
This selection brings together some of his 49 most renowned and entertaining short stories .Each one offer insights into human nature and the way it is affected by love, hate, wealth, poverty, gentility, disguise, and crime-themes that ran thruogh the author's own life. Born William Sidney Porter, O.Henry started writing while in prison for embezzlement.Later he moved to New York, and his tales romanticizing the commonplace, particularly the life of ordinary New Yorkers, became highly popular.The most widely read author of his time, O. Henry died penniless but left behind a wealth of short stories that endure as classics of the genre.
This selection brings together some of his 49 most renowned and entertaining short stories .Each one offer insights into human nature and the way it is affected by love, hate, wealth, poverty, gentility, disguise, and crime-themes that ran thruogh the author's own life. Born William Sidney Porter, O.Henry started writing while in prison for embezzlement.Later he moved to New York, and his tales romanticizing the commonplace, particularly the life of ordinary New Yorkers, became highly popular.The most widely read author of his time, O. Henry died penniless but left behind a wealth of short stories that endure as classics of the genre.
374 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2014
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About the author
O. Henry
2,913 books1,863 followersSuch volumes as
Cabbages and Kings
(1904) and
The Four Million
(1906) collect short stories, noted for their often surprising endings, of American writer William Sydney Porter, who used the pen name O. Henry.
His biography shows where he found inspiration for his characters. His era produced their voices and his language.
Mother of three-year-old Porter died from tuberculosis. He left school at fifteen years of age and worked for five years in drugstore of his uncle and then for two years at a Texas sheep ranch.
In 1884, he went to Austin, where he worked in a real estate office and a church choir and spent four years as a draftsman in the general land office. His wife and firstborn died, but daughter Margaret survived him.
He failed to establish a small humorous weekly and afterward worked in poorly-run bank. When its accounts balanced not, people blamed and fired him.
In Houston, he worked for a few years until, ordered to stand trial for embezzlement, he fled to New Orleans and thence Honduras.
Two years later, he returned on account of illness of his wife. Apprehended, Porter served a few months more than three years in a penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. During his incarceration, he composed ten short stories, including A Blackjack Bargainer , The Enchanted Kiss , and The Duplicity of Hargraves .
In 1899, McClure's published Whistling Dick's Christmas Story and Georgia's Ruling .
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he sent manuscripts to New York editors. In the spring of 1902, Ainslee's Magazine offered him a regular income if he moved to New York.
In less than eight years, he became a bestselling author of collections of short stories. Cabbages and Kings came first in 1904 The Four Million, and The Trimmed Lamp and Heart of the West followed in 1907, and The Voice of the City in 1908, Roads of Destiny and Options in 1909, Strictly Business and Whirligigs in 1910 followed.
Posthumously published collections include The Gentle Grafter about the swindler, Jeff Peters; Rolling Stones , Waifs and Strays , and in 1936, unsigned stories, followed.
People rewarded other persons financially more. A Retrieved Reformation about the safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine got $250; six years later, $500 for dramatic rights, which gave over $100,000 royalties for playwright Paul Armstrong. Many stories have been made into films.
His biography shows where he found inspiration for his characters. His era produced their voices and his language.
Mother of three-year-old Porter died from tuberculosis. He left school at fifteen years of age and worked for five years in drugstore of his uncle and then for two years at a Texas sheep ranch.
In 1884, he went to Austin, where he worked in a real estate office and a church choir and spent four years as a draftsman in the general land office. His wife and firstborn died, but daughter Margaret survived him.
He failed to establish a small humorous weekly and afterward worked in poorly-run bank. When its accounts balanced not, people blamed and fired him.
In Houston, he worked for a few years until, ordered to stand trial for embezzlement, he fled to New Orleans and thence Honduras.
Two years later, he returned on account of illness of his wife. Apprehended, Porter served a few months more than three years in a penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. During his incarceration, he composed ten short stories, including A Blackjack Bargainer , The Enchanted Kiss , and The Duplicity of Hargraves .
In 1899, McClure's published Whistling Dick's Christmas Story and Georgia's Ruling .
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he sent manuscripts to New York editors. In the spring of 1902, Ainslee's Magazine offered him a regular income if he moved to New York.
In less than eight years, he became a bestselling author of collections of short stories. Cabbages and Kings came first in 1904 The Four Million, and The Trimmed Lamp and Heart of the West followed in 1907, and The Voice of the City in 1908, Roads of Destiny and Options in 1909, Strictly Business and Whirligigs in 1910 followed.
Posthumously published collections include The Gentle Grafter about the swindler, Jeff Peters; Rolling Stones , Waifs and Strays , and in 1936, unsigned stories, followed.
People rewarded other persons financially more. A Retrieved Reformation about the safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine got $250; six years later, $500 for dramatic rights, which gave over $100,000 royalties for playwright Paul Armstrong. Many stories have been made into films.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 7, 2016
I did like most of the stories as they were witty, & wonderful. Despite this though, I couldn't really read ALL of the stories, as they were rather difficult to read.
April 16, 2025
I loved O henry's style of writing when I read his story ‘The gift of magi' for the first time in my 11th standard English book.
I wanted to explore more stories by him after that, so I brought this collection.
It was an amazing collection of short stories that gave a glimpse of the author's expertise in crafting elegant short stories with great characters, entrancing narrative, and beautiful irony.
The endings are always best. I loved the twists in the end.
‘After Twenty Years, ' 'The purple Dress, ' 'The Green Door, ' and 'The last leaf' are my favorite stories.
Great collection of short stories that explore human nature and revolve around different themes of love, sacrifice, passion, and life.
I wanted to explore more stories by him after that, so I brought this collection.
It was an amazing collection of short stories that gave a glimpse of the author's expertise in crafting elegant short stories with great characters, entrancing narrative, and beautiful irony.
The endings are always best. I loved the twists in the end.
‘After Twenty Years, ' 'The purple Dress, ' 'The Green Door, ' and 'The last leaf' are my favorite stories.
Great collection of short stories that explore human nature and revolve around different themes of love, sacrifice, passion, and life.
February 9, 2024
Đó giờ chỉ biết O.Henry qua truyện ngắn "Chiếc lá cuối cùng", nay đọc được tuyển tập truyện ngắn của ông thì thật sự phải công nhận ông viết truyện ngắn rất hay, câu chữ lôi cuốn và dẫn truyện rất duyên. Và hơn nữa ông còn là ông hoàng tổ lái, 90% truyện của ông toàn có plot twist cuối truyện.
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February 3, 2023Like Maupassant
May 25, 2013
the stories are just as varied and interesting!
although i am not done with all the 100 but the few i have read were very good and engaging!
this green coloured pretty book (a gift from my dad on new year; years ago) has been stupidly missed by me all these years!
the prints are not hard on the eyes and the quick stories are perfect for those who enjoy short stories,in general.
the writing can get difficult and the words used in some stories are quite straining but if you overcome that part,you'll be able to maintain a good flow.
cheers to that!
although i am not done with all the 100 but the few i have read were very good and engaging!
this green coloured pretty book (a gift from my dad on new year; years ago) has been stupidly missed by me all these years!
the prints are not hard on the eyes and the quick stories are perfect for those who enjoy short stories,in general.
the writing can get difficult and the words used in some stories are quite straining but if you overcome that part,you'll be able to maintain a good flow.
cheers to that!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews