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Sixes and Sevens: Stories
From America’s favorite storyteller: A rich selection of twenty-five tales by the author of “The Gift of the Magi.”
Writing under the pseudonym O. Henry, William Sydney Porter was an incredibly prolific and popular master of the short story in the early twentieth century. His stories are known for being witty, playful, full of plot twists, and marked by surprise endings. The author had a special fondness for New York City and a deep interest and appreciation for the ordinary folk who populate his timeless tales.
First published in 1911, his eleventh collection features such classics as “The Duplicity of the Hargraves,” about a destitute Confederate major and his spinster daughter in Washington, DC, and their encounter with a vaudeville actor; as well as “Makes the Whole World Kin,” about a thief and a sick old man who form a surprising bond. Once entered, O. Henry’s world becomes an unforgettable destination, and over a century later, readers continue to return—again and again.
Sixes and Sevens includes “The Duplicity of Hargraves,” “Makes the Whole World Kin,” “The Last of the Troubadours,” “Witches’ Loaves,” “The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes,” “A Ghost of a Chance,” “New York by Camp Fire Light,” “Ulysses and the Dogman,” and more.
This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Writing under the pseudonym O. Henry, William Sydney Porter was an incredibly prolific and popular master of the short story in the early twentieth century. His stories are known for being witty, playful, full of plot twists, and marked by surprise endings. The author had a special fondness for New York City and a deep interest and appreciation for the ordinary folk who populate his timeless tales.
First published in 1911, his eleventh collection features such classics as “The Duplicity of the Hargraves,” about a destitute Confederate major and his spinster daughter in Washington, DC, and their encounter with a vaudeville actor; as well as “Makes the Whole World Kin,” about a thief and a sick old man who form a surprising bond. Once entered, O. Henry’s world becomes an unforgettable destination, and over a century later, readers continue to return—again and again.
Sixes and Sevens includes “The Duplicity of Hargraves,” “Makes the Whole World Kin,” “The Last of the Troubadours,” “Witches’ Loaves,” “The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes,” “A Ghost of a Chance,” “New York by Camp Fire Light,” “Ulysses and the Dogman,” and more.
This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2017
About the author
O. Henry
2,926 books1,927 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 10, 2025
ENGLISH: In this collection of 25 stories by O.Henry, I liked four of them specially:
"Ulysses and the dogman," about a dog-walker who meets an old friend and says once too many "make it two."
"The duplicity of Hargraves," about a very special actor and an old southern major.
"The church with an overshot-wheel," about a miller who lost his daughter and made his mill into a church.
"Law and Order," about a western sheriff and his deputy, who respectively represent Order and Law, and travel to New York to make sure Law and Order are preserved.
ESPAÑOL: En esta colección de 25 cuentos de O.Henry, me gustaron especialmente los cuatro siguientes:
"Ulises y el hombre del perro", sobre un paseador de perros que se encuentra con un viejo amigo y dice "que sean dos".
"La duplicidad de Hargraves", sobre un actor muy especial y un viejo mayor sureño.
"La iglesia con una rueda de molino", sobre un molinero que perdió a su hija y convirtió su molino en iglesia.
"La Ley y el Orden", sobre un sheriff del oeste y su ayudante, que representan respectivamente el Orden y la Ley, y viajan a Nueva York para asegurarse de que la Ley y el Orden se mantienen.
"Ulysses and the dogman," about a dog-walker who meets an old friend and says once too many "make it two."
"The duplicity of Hargraves," about a very special actor and an old southern major.
"The church with an overshot-wheel," about a miller who lost his daughter and made his mill into a church.
"Law and Order," about a western sheriff and his deputy, who respectively represent Order and Law, and travel to New York to make sure Law and Order are preserved.
ESPAÑOL: En esta colección de 25 cuentos de O.Henry, me gustaron especialmente los cuatro siguientes:
"Ulises y el hombre del perro", sobre un paseador de perros que se encuentra con un viejo amigo y dice "que sean dos".
"La duplicidad de Hargraves", sobre un actor muy especial y un viejo mayor sureño.
"La iglesia con una rueda de molino", sobre un molinero que perdió a su hija y convirtió su molino en iglesia.
"La Ley y el Orden", sobre un sheriff del oeste y su ayudante, que representan respectivamente el Orden y la Ley, y viajan a Nueva York para asegurarse de que la Ley y el Orden se mantienen.
May 26, 2013
VINTAGE O. HENRY.
"No man is a hero to his saddle-horse."--page 4
Recommendation: O. Henry never disappoints.
Public domain ePub edition from feedbooks.com, 183 pages
Also available at gutenberg.org
"No man is a hero to his saddle-horse."--page 4
Recommendation: O. Henry never disappoints.
Public domain ePub edition from feedbooks.com, 183 pages
Also available at gutenberg.org
July 27, 2021
O. Henry is absolutely amazing! What a hoot! And I learned so many new words!! Loved it :)
November 22, 2017
I read a copy of this published by Open Road Media, purchased for free from Amazon after receiving their daily Early Bird Books newsletter. It is classic O. Henry. Not every story is equally good, but none of them are boring. One of my biggest gripes about the book is specific to the format in the Kindle version that I read. There are 25 stories, but no table of contents with titles. The stories are numbered 1 through 25, but until you land on the page on your Kindle, you won't know the title.
I enjoyed reading this on a Kindle over the course of a couple of weeks. It may be a bit much to read 25 short stories by this author back to back, but for me it was perfect to pick up a device and read a short story when I had a short period of time to kill.
I enjoyed reading this on a Kindle over the course of a couple of weeks. It may be a bit much to read 25 short stories by this author back to back, but for me it was perfect to pick up a device and read a short story when I had a short period of time to kill.
February 24, 2014
O. Henry's brilliant, there's no getting around it. Witty in his storytelling, unprecedented in his prose. A few of the twists I saw coming, but others took me delightfully by surprise. And a man who can capture both the Wild West and encapsulate the heart of New York and its citoyens is pretty remarkable. I especially enjoyed "Witches Loaves," "Jimmie Hayes and Muriel," and "The Duplicity of Hargraves."
There is so much depth and insight into character, too: "And now I detected a new flavor...the emanation was the odor of bad whiskey and worse still, of low comedy - the sort that small humorists manufacture by clothing the grave and reverend things of legend and history in the vulgar, topical frippery that passes for a certain kind of wit."
He's all about the details. He doesn't skim over them, but is painstaking in his description. He remains my favorite short storyteller.
There is so much depth and insight into character, too: "And now I detected a new flavor...the emanation was the odor of bad whiskey and worse still, of low comedy - the sort that small humorists manufacture by clothing the grave and reverend things of legend and history in the vulgar, topical frippery that passes for a certain kind of wit."
He's all about the details. He doesn't skim over them, but is painstaking in his description. He remains my favorite short storyteller.
October 27, 2014
O'Henry proves that he is the master of the short story format. This collection has quirky as well as nice little stories, each differing in style from the other.
January 4, 2026
In case you're wondering, "Sixes and Sevens" is a phrase (probably from dice games, although its origin is lost in the mists of time) that indicates confusion or disorder. O. Henry made his trademark the short story with the twist at the end. To be honest, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but it's not the worst gimmick, if you must have one (and in order to sustain yourself from a writer's craft, you will need something to allow for the volume of output required). In the short stories of this volume, one of several I have read in the past year, the twist is most often provided by the clearing up of some confusion (e.g. as to identity) in the last paragraph. I make it a habit to cover the last paragraph or so with my bookmark as I read the last page.
One of the distinguishing features of O. Henry's stories is that he has a broad range of characters. Some are small-town or rural types, cowboys or farmers. Some are wealthy New York urbanites, some are poor or homeless. North or South (or occasionally Latin American), rural or urban, wealthy or poor, they all come across as both flawed but not despicable. The tales cannot usually be honestly called "believable", and yet they do bear the mark of someone who is painting from real life. A casual perusal of the author's life history answers as to why. He was no political progressive, and his language will at time sound coarse to modern readers (although at other times he is eloquent to the verge of poetry), but when he discusses the plight of a young woman, old man, minority or Anglo, rich or poor, he does so in a way that suggests he has known such people well enough to be neither insulting nor idealistic. One wonders what the many people he met in his life thought of his stories?
One of the distinguishing features of O. Henry's stories is that he has a broad range of characters. Some are small-town or rural types, cowboys or farmers. Some are wealthy New York urbanites, some are poor or homeless. North or South (or occasionally Latin American), rural or urban, wealthy or poor, they all come across as both flawed but not despicable. The tales cannot usually be honestly called "believable", and yet they do bear the mark of someone who is painting from real life. A casual perusal of the author's life history answers as to why. He was no political progressive, and his language will at time sound coarse to modern readers (although at other times he is eloquent to the verge of poetry), but when he discusses the plight of a young woman, old man, minority or Anglo, rich or poor, he does so in a way that suggests he has known such people well enough to be neither insulting nor idealistic. One wonders what the many people he met in his life thought of his stories?
March 31, 2026
Among the short stories in this collection, *Witches' Loaves* stands out to me. The theme essentially revolves around misguided kindness and unwanted meddling.
The protagonist, Miss Martha, is a woman who, upon being furiously yelled at by the recipient of her "goodwill," promptly and effortlessly discards her self-image as a benevolent savior. That attitude is actually quite healthy. In reality, far too many people struggle to withdraw their "good intentions" once they've acted on them. The imposition of excessive goodwill and the resulting backlash is a social conflict we still see everywhere today, making the story's underlying lesson feel completely timeless.
I also appreciate that the story doesn't feel preachy. In Martha's case, her kindness was partly driven by an ulterior motive—she wanted the man to like her. Rather than stemming from pure, religious charity, her motivations are wonderfully mundane, and the way her delusions spiral feels almost reminiscent of a *shojo* manga (Japanese girls' comic). As a reader, this actually makes her a highly relatable and likable character.
The protagonist, Miss Martha, is a woman who, upon being furiously yelled at by the recipient of her "goodwill," promptly and effortlessly discards her self-image as a benevolent savior. That attitude is actually quite healthy. In reality, far too many people struggle to withdraw their "good intentions" once they've acted on them. The imposition of excessive goodwill and the resulting backlash is a social conflict we still see everywhere today, making the story's underlying lesson feel completely timeless.
I also appreciate that the story doesn't feel preachy. In Martha's case, her kindness was partly driven by an ulterior motive—she wanted the man to like her. Rather than stemming from pure, religious charity, her motivations are wonderfully mundane, and the way her delusions spiral feels almost reminiscent of a *shojo* manga (Japanese girls' comic). As a reader, this actually makes her a highly relatable and likable character.
November 9, 2025
O. Henry's "Sixes and Sevens" is a collection of 25 short stories with quite a different variety. Reviewed separately.
-THE LAST OF THE TROUBADOURS- cattle ranch story
-THE SLEUTHS -brother looking for his sister through detectives
-WITCHES’ LOAVES -a baker looks to help a poor artist
-THE PRIDE OF THE CITIES- a man tells the wonder of NYC_ but as 2025 no more
-HOLDING UP A TRAIN-A train robbery
-ULYSSES AND THE DOGMAN -A dog in charge of a man
-THE CHAMPION OF THE WEATHER - a man judges by a question asked
-MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN -a robber has sympathy
-AT ARMS WITH MORPHEUS -a morphine overdose which ends up bringing change
-A GHOST OF A CHANCE - a family ghost
-JIMMY HAYES AND MURIEL- life of a Texas Ranger
-THE DOOR OF UNREST-Ancient history
-THE DUPLICITY OF HARGRAVES - an actor helps
-LET ME FEEL YOUR PULSE -health and medicine
-OCTOBER AND JUNE -a marriage proposal
-THE CHURCH WITH AN OVERSHOT-WHEEL -a heart warming story of reunion
-NEW YORK BY CAMP FIRE LIGHT -a New York story
-THE ADVENTURES OF SHAMROCK JOLNES- a Sherlock kind of case
-THE LADY HIGHER UP -two statue in New York talking - sad city
-THE GREATER CONEY - a lover quarrel
-LAW AND ORDER - a divorce and child custody
-TRANSFORMATION OF MARTIN BURNEY -tobacco lover
-THE CALIPH AND THE CAD - a gentleman verses a real gentleman
-THE DIAMOND OF KALI - a mystery about a diamond
-THE DAY WE CELEBRATE- Christmas time
-THE LAST OF THE TROUBADOURS- cattle ranch story
-THE SLEUTHS -brother looking for his sister through detectives
-WITCHES’ LOAVES -a baker looks to help a poor artist
-THE PRIDE OF THE CITIES- a man tells the wonder of NYC_ but as 2025 no more
-HOLDING UP A TRAIN-A train robbery
-ULYSSES AND THE DOGMAN -A dog in charge of a man
-THE CHAMPION OF THE WEATHER - a man judges by a question asked
-MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN -a robber has sympathy
-AT ARMS WITH MORPHEUS -a morphine overdose which ends up bringing change
-A GHOST OF A CHANCE - a family ghost
-JIMMY HAYES AND MURIEL- life of a Texas Ranger
-THE DOOR OF UNREST-Ancient history
-THE DUPLICITY OF HARGRAVES - an actor helps
-LET ME FEEL YOUR PULSE -health and medicine
-OCTOBER AND JUNE -a marriage proposal
-THE CHURCH WITH AN OVERSHOT-WHEEL -a heart warming story of reunion
-NEW YORK BY CAMP FIRE LIGHT -a New York story
-THE ADVENTURES OF SHAMROCK JOLNES- a Sherlock kind of case
-THE LADY HIGHER UP -two statue in New York talking - sad city
-THE GREATER CONEY - a lover quarrel
-LAW AND ORDER - a divorce and child custody
-TRANSFORMATION OF MARTIN BURNEY -tobacco lover
-THE CALIPH AND THE CAD - a gentleman verses a real gentleman
-THE DIAMOND OF KALI - a mystery about a diamond
-THE DAY WE CELEBRATE- Christmas time
April 28, 2019
Sixes and Sevens is a collection of twenty-five short stories by O. Henry. He captures the voice of a host of characters from all four corners of the American landscape. Many of his stories mirror the meaning of sixes and sevens which describes a feeling of confusion or disarray.
Some of the stories end with a twist of fate, some are poignant reunions and a few sleuth stories in the bunch. The Last of the Troubadours, a Western tale, had a satisfying and surprise ending while both The Church with an Overshot-Wheel and Law and Order have sweet reunions with long-lost children. In The Lady Higher Up, the Statue of Liberty and Diana of the Towers have a conversation. The Statue of Liberty humorously has an Irish brogue.
In The Greater Coney lovers meet at Coney Island and in Witches’ Loaves, a young engineer buys stale bread to use as an eraser on his blueprint. But the woman in the bakery thinks he is a struggling and adds butter to his order. He is mortified when his work is destroyed.
The Duplicity of Hargraves was a hilarious look at the Antebellum South and shows how an actor made a profit from listening to one who could not let that that era go. Each story is unique both voice and the setting as they span the country and even venture down into Costa Rica. Two characters end up on a banana plantation and lose track of time in The Day We Celebrate. Sixes and Sevens is a magnificent read and well worth the time!
Some of the stories end with a twist of fate, some are poignant reunions and a few sleuth stories in the bunch. The Last of the Troubadours, a Western tale, had a satisfying and surprise ending while both The Church with an Overshot-Wheel and Law and Order have sweet reunions with long-lost children. In The Lady Higher Up, the Statue of Liberty and Diana of the Towers have a conversation. The Statue of Liberty humorously has an Irish brogue.
In The Greater Coney lovers meet at Coney Island and in Witches’ Loaves, a young engineer buys stale bread to use as an eraser on his blueprint. But the woman in the bakery thinks he is a struggling and adds butter to his order. He is mortified when his work is destroyed.
The Duplicity of Hargraves was a hilarious look at the Antebellum South and shows how an actor made a profit from listening to one who could not let that that era go. Each story is unique both voice and the setting as they span the country and even venture down into Costa Rica. Two characters end up on a banana plantation and lose track of time in The Day We Celebrate. Sixes and Sevens is a magnificent read and well worth the time!
November 1, 2020
Clever, ironic comedy in bite-sized pieces. Characters who are colourful, engaging and fascinating without being too glaringly stereotypical. Endings that almost always have a quirky twist, sometimes predictable but still a pleasure to read.
Yes, I’m an O. Henry fan. His humour seems far more gentle and yet far more positive and amusing than the more brash modern American style of humour. A few stories might offend modern racial & gender sensitivities, especially one where a white actor uses black face to trick a proud, elderly white southerner he wants to help. However, in most cases I felt the author is poking fun at old attitudes rather than promoting them. Part of the subtle humour in the actor story may be that the old plantation owner is unable to recognise one of his former slaves or even to tell a fake African American from a real one, despite all his idyllic ante-bellum tales.
Yes, I’m an O. Henry fan. His humour seems far more gentle and yet far more positive and amusing than the more brash modern American style of humour. A few stories might offend modern racial & gender sensitivities, especially one where a white actor uses black face to trick a proud, elderly white southerner he wants to help. However, in most cases I felt the author is poking fun at old attitudes rather than promoting them. Part of the subtle humour in the actor story may be that the old plantation owner is unable to recognise one of his former slaves or even to tell a fake African American from a real one, despite all his idyllic ante-bellum tales.
Want to Read
August 5, 2012Henry, O.
The Complete Works of O. Henry
In compilation only.
1) The Last of the Troubadours
2) The Sleuths
3) Witches' Loaves
4) The Pride of the Cities
5) Holding Up a Train
6) Ulysses and the Dogman
7) The Champion of the Weather
8) Makes the Whole World Kin
9) At Arms with Morpheus
10) A Ghost of a Chance
11) Jimmy Hayes and Muriel
12) The Door of Unrest
13) The Duplicity of Hargraves
14) Let Me Feel Your Pulse
15) October and June
16) The Church with an Over-Shot-Wheel
17) New York by Camp Fire Light
18) The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes
19) The Lady Higher Up
20) The Great Coney
21) Law and Order
22) Transformation of Martin Burney
23) The Caliph and the Cad
24) The Diamond at Kali
25) The Day we Celebrate
The Complete Works of O. Henry
In compilation only.
1) The Last of the Troubadours
2) The Sleuths
3) Witches' Loaves
4) The Pride of the Cities
5) Holding Up a Train
6) Ulysses and the Dogman
7) The Champion of the Weather
8) Makes the Whole World Kin
9) At Arms with Morpheus
10) A Ghost of a Chance
11) Jimmy Hayes and Muriel
12) The Door of Unrest
13) The Duplicity of Hargraves
14) Let Me Feel Your Pulse
15) October and June
16) The Church with an Over-Shot-Wheel
17) New York by Camp Fire Light
18) The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes
19) The Lady Higher Up
20) The Great Coney
21) Law and Order
22) Transformation of Martin Burney
23) The Caliph and the Cad
24) The Diamond at Kali
25) The Day we Celebrate
Want to Read
April 14, 2025Read so far:
*The Last of the Troubadours --
*The Sleuths --
*Witches' Loaves --
*The Pride of the Cities --
Holding Up a Train --3
*Ulysses and the Dogman --
The Champion of The Weather --
*Makes the Whole World Kin --
*At Arms with Morpheus --
*A Ghost of a Chance --
*Jimmy Hayes and Muriel --
*The Door of Unrest --
The Duplicity of Hargreaves --3
*Let Me Feel Your Pulse --
October and June --
The Church with an Overshot Wheel --
New York by Camp Fire Light --
The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes --2
The Lady Higher Up --
The Greater Coney --
*Law and Order --
*Transformation of Martin Burney --
The Caliph and The Cad --
The Diamond of Kali --2
The Day We Celebrate --
***
Hearts and Hands --3
Tracked to Doom (aka The Mystery of the Rue de Peychaud) --2
*The Last of the Troubadours --
*The Sleuths --
*Witches' Loaves --
*The Pride of the Cities --
Holding Up a Train --3
*Ulysses and the Dogman --
The Champion of The Weather --
*Makes the Whole World Kin --
*At Arms with Morpheus --
*A Ghost of a Chance --
*Jimmy Hayes and Muriel --
*The Door of Unrest --
The Duplicity of Hargreaves --3
*Let Me Feel Your Pulse --
October and June --
The Church with an Overshot Wheel --
New York by Camp Fire Light --
The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes --2
The Lady Higher Up --
The Greater Coney --
*Law and Order --
*Transformation of Martin Burney --
The Caliph and The Cad --
The Diamond of Kali --2
The Day We Celebrate --
***
Hearts and Hands --3
Tracked to Doom (aka The Mystery of the Rue de Peychaud) --2
April 9, 2017
Became acquainted with this author after reading the delicious short story "The gift of the magi".
Read "The Last of the Troubadours" and "The sleuths" so far, the last a spoof of Sherlock Holmes featuring a detective named Shamrock Jolnes, but first story is way better and more characteristic of the author. All good stuff, Henry sure got some adorably stylish narrative skills.
whenever I'll get the time, should be returning for more...
Read "The Last of the Troubadours" and "The sleuths" so far, the last a spoof of Sherlock Holmes featuring a detective named Shamrock Jolnes, but first story is way better and more characteristic of the author. All good stuff, Henry sure got some adorably stylish narrative skills.
whenever I'll get the time, should be returning for more...
December 11, 2017
Terrifically funny (mostly; some more serious) collection of sketches, apparently posthumously published. Have been reading a fair amount of O. Henry lately and finding that the few works of his that "everyone knows" just don't do him justice - not surprisingly! Well, better now than never, so far as encountering more of his muse is concerned.
April 10, 2023
This collection had more of the sad stories and the tear-jerkers than the previous two that I had read - but, still, a great bunch from the unique talent that was O. Henry. The Church with an Overshot Wheel gives a great lesson in hope and charity; Jimmie Hayes and Muriel is a great tear-jerker for the animal lovers; and The Day We Celebrate is a tongue-in-chick homage to our patriotism.
December 17, 2023
O. Henry is the master of the short story. This collection is some of the best. Each gem is a intimate portrait of Gilded Age New York that, somehow, ring more true due to their setting then any modern or exotic locale could ever hope to make them. Some are sad, most sweet, plenty tug at the conscience or heart. Re-read them with love again and again.
December 14, 2024
A fascinating read.
I was familiar with O Henry's "Gift of the Magi" and heard that he originated "The Cisco Kid." I had no idea of the breadth of his short stories. Texas. New York. South America. Cowboys. The Irish. Southerners. Northerners. And all these stories have a twist. A real treat!
I was familiar with O Henry's "Gift of the Magi" and heard that he originated "The Cisco Kid." I had no idea of the breadth of his short stories. Texas. New York. South America. Cowboys. The Irish. Southerners. Northerners. And all these stories have a twist. A real treat!
June 6, 2012
I enjoyed this book, but I sometimes find O. Henry a bit frustrating. I dislike the shaggy dog style he uses in many of his stories, like those about Shamrock Jolnes. On the other hand, many of his stories are clever and well paced. Also, I've always enjoyed the medium of short stories.
May 13, 2019
Wonderful writer
Some of the stories were five stars and pure genius. Others not so much. But the good ones were worth plodding through the not so good ones and I still admire his gift for the short story.
Some of the stories were five stars and pure genius. Others not so much. But the good ones were worth plodding through the not so good ones and I still admire his gift for the short story.
May 17, 2019
Some of these short stories are better than others. The first was in the same style of dramatic irony as "The Gift of the Magi." Fortunately, most were not. Some were difficult to follow, but the majority are little gems.
June 4, 2019
More of the same stories— colorful, clever, warm, evocative of place and time. Sometimes racist but never vulgar. Fun to read aloud.
December 22, 2024
I know he is a great writer and growing up I really enjoyed his short stories. This collection did not click with me and I stopped reading it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews