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Roads of Destiny
An adventure story.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1902
About the author
O. Henry
2,929 books1,924 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 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 4, 2025
A collection of 22 short stories by one of the masters of the craft.
The stories in this collection are fairly varied, but there are some settings and tropes that appear in more than one story. The soldier of fortune, for instance, generally going to some impoverished South American country to help start off a revolution. Or a tramp, a man with no fixed address and nobody by way of family, who ends up in some adventure. Several stories are set in South America (or in Texas or other states that border Mexico), some in New Orleans. There are stories of love and ambition, of fortune and the way we humans often cannot control our destinies—or, in some cases (the well-known story A Retrieved Reformation, for example) how it is up to us to decide what path we will take.
I have to confess that I didn’t like all of these stories equally. Some, like A Retrieved Reformation, A Double-Eyed Deceiver, Friends in San Rosario and The Enchanted Profile I had read before and loved even now. Others, like The Guardian of the Accolade, Phœbe and On Behalf of the Management, were new to me but stories which I enjoyed immensely. Several others, however, I found a little tiresome: too wordy, too meandering, without the crispness and the zing I generally associate with O Henry’s writing. In this category, the stories I especially found a bit tedious were The Fourth in Salvador (I saw the twist coming in this story), Whistling Duck’s Christmas Stocking, The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss, A Departmental Case and Cherchez La Femme. Compared to the others, these were a little ho-hum, but not terrible.
On the whole, though, a readable collection, and of course the best thing about short stories is that you can dip into them a little at a time: good for a quick bit of reading before bedtime.
The stories in this collection are fairly varied, but there are some settings and tropes that appear in more than one story. The soldier of fortune, for instance, generally going to some impoverished South American country to help start off a revolution. Or a tramp, a man with no fixed address and nobody by way of family, who ends up in some adventure. Several stories are set in South America (or in Texas or other states that border Mexico), some in New Orleans. There are stories of love and ambition, of fortune and the way we humans often cannot control our destinies—or, in some cases (the well-known story A Retrieved Reformation, for example) how it is up to us to decide what path we will take.
I have to confess that I didn’t like all of these stories equally. Some, like A Retrieved Reformation, A Double-Eyed Deceiver, Friends in San Rosario and The Enchanted Profile I had read before and loved even now. Others, like The Guardian of the Accolade, Phœbe and On Behalf of the Management, were new to me but stories which I enjoyed immensely. Several others, however, I found a little tiresome: too wordy, too meandering, without the crispness and the zing I generally associate with O Henry’s writing. In this category, the stories I especially found a bit tedious were The Fourth in Salvador (I saw the twist coming in this story), Whistling Duck’s Christmas Stocking, The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss, A Departmental Case and Cherchez La Femme. Compared to the others, these were a little ho-hum, but not terrible.
On the whole, though, a readable collection, and of course the best thing about short stories is that you can dip into them a little at a time: good for a quick bit of reading before bedtime.
August 31, 2025
ENGLISH: In this collection of 22 stories by O.Henry, I liked three of them specially, besides the story that gives title to the collection:
"The discounters of money" about an ornithological millionaire (a millionaire through inheritance, i.e. because of the stork) who wants to marry a young lady who despises money.
"A retrieved reformation" about a safe-cracker who reforms when he falls in love.
"Friends in San Rosario," a tale of two friends, worthy of comparison to famous stories about great friends, as that by Don Juan Manuel in Spanish literature, or as the old story about Damon and Pythias, in the time of the tyrant Dyonisius of Siracuse. For me, this was the best story in this collection.
ESPAÑOL: En esta colección de 22 cuentos de O.Henry, además del que da título a la colección, me gustaron especialmente los tres siguientes:
"Los que no tienen en cuenta el dinero" sobre un millonario por herencia que corteja a una joven que desprecia el dinero.
"Una reforma recobrada" sobre un ladrón de cajas fuertes que se reforma cuando se enamora.
"Amigos en San Rosario", la historia de dos amigos, digna de compararse con historias famosas de grandes amigos, como la de Don Juan Manuel en literatura española, o la antigua sobre Damon y Pitias, en la época del tirano Dionisio de Siracusa. Este fue el cuento que más me gustó.
"The discounters of money" about an ornithological millionaire (a millionaire through inheritance, i.e. because of the stork) who wants to marry a young lady who despises money.
"A retrieved reformation" about a safe-cracker who reforms when he falls in love.
"Friends in San Rosario," a tale of two friends, worthy of comparison to famous stories about great friends, as that by Don Juan Manuel in Spanish literature, or as the old story about Damon and Pythias, in the time of the tyrant Dyonisius of Siracuse. For me, this was the best story in this collection.
ESPAÑOL: En esta colección de 22 cuentos de O.Henry, además del que da título a la colección, me gustaron especialmente los tres siguientes:
"Los que no tienen en cuenta el dinero" sobre un millonario por herencia que corteja a una joven que desprecia el dinero.
"Una reforma recobrada" sobre un ladrón de cajas fuertes que se reforma cuando se enamora.
"Amigos en San Rosario", la historia de dos amigos, digna de compararse con historias famosas de grandes amigos, como la de Don Juan Manuel en literatura española, o la antigua sobre Damon y Pitias, en la época del tirano Dionisio de Siracusa. Este fue el cuento que más me gustó.
February 14, 2017
A collection of short stories, some funny, with twist endings. O.Henry's style is witty, but sometimes difficult to understand. He often introduces his stories with his view on American history and society, which is not always easy to understand for the modern reader. The stories are inventive and creative. A nice discovery.
August 26, 2018
Jeez O. Henry could write. So many thoughts. Please forgive any misspellings or words that are mistyped.
O. HENRY THE MAN, THE WRITER
For those who don't know about O. Henry, he was a short story writer at the start of the 20th century. His stories often had a surprise twist. Like an early M Night Shyamalan but without the sucky stretch. O Henry's most famous story is the Gift of the Magi with the hair combs and the watch chain.
O. Henry was a pen name. He lived quite a life (including being a pharmacist, ranch hand, bureaucrat, publisher, fugitive and convict) before becoming O. Henry the famous short story writer living in New York City aka The Four Million.
If you have never read any O. Henry, check out After Twenty Years https://americanenglish.state.gov/fil... . It should only take 5 to 10 minutes to read the whole thing. A grade school teacher read it to our class 40 years ago and I became a fan.
When enough short stories were published in magazines, they were released in book form. Roads of Destiny is one of those.
ROADS OF DESTINY THE BOOK
The unrelated stories take place all over. France, New Orleans, South America, New York City, Texas, and are all places where O. Henry lived at some point.
The stories that take place in NYC are my favorites. They are densely packed with jokes and references, most of which are lost to the ages. It's like listening to a Dennis Miller monologue back in the 80s or a Highway 61 Revisited era Bob Dylan song. The man could put words together.
These stories are over 110 years old, and some things are dated, but unlike Charles Dickens, some of which can a chore to plow through, remain wonderfully readable. And most of the stories did have a twist. It was an enjoyable ride.
ABOUT THE EDITIONS I HAVE
Edition 1
Somewhere along the line at a thrift store or similar, I picked up 3 of the novel length short story collections, all with matching bindings. The book I have was published in 1919 and features a stupid illustration at the beginning with a line from one of the stories. The line contains the N word. For better or worse, it is captured here https://archive.org/details/roadsdest...
Was O. Henry a racist? Did I have to reconsider liking him? The few instances of the N word are all spoken by characters not by the narrator. The story in question is near the end and among the weakest of the lot. Unlike Ian Flemming who's voice as a narrator comes off as the racist he was, O. Henry remains likeable.
Sign of the times, oh the irony - so the book has the N word but when it came to printing "damn", they printed it as "d--n". We've come a long way as a country. Thank God.
Edition 2: Masters Library Edition
Way before ebooks and the Worldwide Web, in the 1980s Masters Library would give old time American authors the big leather bound treatment. Sort of a CD box set, but for books. Stamped on the back, in gold, is "BONDED LEATHER". I guess I should look up what the bonded part of that means.
When I was in college, after reading about it in the Sunday paper, I asked for the just released O. Henry edition for Xmas. I expected someday I would read it. It only took 30+ years for me to get to it. This edition has most but not all of the book length collections.
After starting the 1919 printed book, I realized it was in BONDED LEATHER so I switched.
BONDED LEATHER omits the offensive illustration but keeps the N word and the original printing of d--n.
Edition 3: Free eBook
I was in the middle of reading this when I headed out of town. Rather than lug the big leather book with me, I downloaded the in public domain eBook onto my tablet. I switched back the BONDED LEATHER when I got home, mostly because the tablet stays on the other floor of our house.
While at it, I downloaded rest of O. Henry's books. I have set aside the trio of matching books for donation to the used book store. I'm keeping the BONDED LEATHER version and will read the rest of the books in it over the next year or so, while mixing up my reading with other writers.
O. HENRY THE MAN, THE WRITER
For those who don't know about O. Henry, he was a short story writer at the start of the 20th century. His stories often had a surprise twist. Like an early M Night Shyamalan but without the sucky stretch. O Henry's most famous story is the Gift of the Magi with the hair combs and the watch chain.
O. Henry was a pen name. He lived quite a life (including being a pharmacist, ranch hand, bureaucrat, publisher, fugitive and convict) before becoming O. Henry the famous short story writer living in New York City aka The Four Million.
If you have never read any O. Henry, check out After Twenty Years https://americanenglish.state.gov/fil... . It should only take 5 to 10 minutes to read the whole thing. A grade school teacher read it to our class 40 years ago and I became a fan.
When enough short stories were published in magazines, they were released in book form. Roads of Destiny is one of those.
ROADS OF DESTINY THE BOOK
The unrelated stories take place all over. France, New Orleans, South America, New York City, Texas, and are all places where O. Henry lived at some point.
The stories that take place in NYC are my favorites. They are densely packed with jokes and references, most of which are lost to the ages. It's like listening to a Dennis Miller monologue back in the 80s or a Highway 61 Revisited era Bob Dylan song. The man could put words together.
These stories are over 110 years old, and some things are dated, but unlike Charles Dickens, some of which can a chore to plow through, remain wonderfully readable. And most of the stories did have a twist. It was an enjoyable ride.
ABOUT THE EDITIONS I HAVE
Edition 1
Somewhere along the line at a thrift store or similar, I picked up 3 of the novel length short story collections, all with matching bindings. The book I have was published in 1919 and features a stupid illustration at the beginning with a line from one of the stories. The line contains the N word. For better or worse, it is captured here https://archive.org/details/roadsdest...
Was O. Henry a racist? Did I have to reconsider liking him? The few instances of the N word are all spoken by characters not by the narrator. The story in question is near the end and among the weakest of the lot. Unlike Ian Flemming who's voice as a narrator comes off as the racist he was, O. Henry remains likeable.
Sign of the times, oh the irony - so the book has the N word but when it came to printing "damn", they printed it as "d--n". We've come a long way as a country. Thank God.
Edition 2: Masters Library Edition
Way before ebooks and the Worldwide Web, in the 1980s Masters Library would give old time American authors the big leather bound treatment. Sort of a CD box set, but for books. Stamped on the back, in gold, is "BONDED LEATHER". I guess I should look up what the bonded part of that means.
When I was in college, after reading about it in the Sunday paper, I asked for the just released O. Henry edition for Xmas. I expected someday I would read it. It only took 30+ years for me to get to it. This edition has most but not all of the book length collections.
After starting the 1919 printed book, I realized it was in BONDED LEATHER so I switched.
BONDED LEATHER omits the offensive illustration but keeps the N word and the original printing of d--n.
Edition 3: Free eBook
I was in the middle of reading this when I headed out of town. Rather than lug the big leather book with me, I downloaded the in public domain eBook onto my tablet. I switched back the BONDED LEATHER when I got home, mostly because the tablet stays on the other floor of our house.
While at it, I downloaded rest of O. Henry's books. I have set aside the trio of matching books for donation to the used book store. I'm keeping the BONDED LEATHER version and will read the rest of the books in it over the next year or so, while mixing up my reading with other writers.
August 15, 2015
4.5
SO SO SO GOOD! I loved it!
I was a bit lost at the beginning but when I understood the branches and those things I was absolutely hooked.
SO SO SO GOOD! I loved it!
I was a bit lost at the beginning but when I understood the branches and those things I was absolutely hooked.
June 13, 2016
Ah, the eternal 'What, if' question. Also, the 'Two roads diverged in a wood' conundrum explained in a brilliant fashion. I bow to you O'Henry!
September 7, 2023
3.9⭐
Roads of Destiny is a story collection by O. Henry, published in 1909. There are twenty-two short stories in this collection.
Roads of Destiny 5⭐
The Guardian of the Accolade 4.25⭐
The Discounters of Money 4.75⭐
The Enchanted Profile 3.5⭐
"Next to Reading Matter" 3.25⭐
Art and the Bronco 4⭐
Phoebe 4⭐
A Double-dyed Deceiver 3.5⭐
The Passing of Black Eagle 3.25⭐
A Retrieved Reformation 5⭐
Cherchez la Femme 3.75⭐
Friends in San Rosario 5⭐
The Fourth in Salvador 4⭐
The Emancipation of Billy 4⭐
The Enchanted Kiss 3.5⭐
A Departmental Case 4⭐
The Renaissance at Charleroi 3.25⭐
On Behalf of the Management 3.5⭐
Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking 4.25⭐
The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss 3.25⭐
Two Renegades 3.5⭐
The Lonesome Road 3⭐
Roads of Destiny is a story collection by O. Henry, published in 1909. There are twenty-two short stories in this collection.
Roads of Destiny 5⭐
The Guardian of the Accolade 4.25⭐
The Discounters of Money 4.75⭐
The Enchanted Profile 3.5⭐
"Next to Reading Matter" 3.25⭐
Art and the Bronco 4⭐
Phoebe 4⭐
A Double-dyed Deceiver 3.5⭐
The Passing of Black Eagle 3.25⭐
A Retrieved Reformation 5⭐
Cherchez la Femme 3.75⭐
Friends in San Rosario 5⭐
The Fourth in Salvador 4⭐
The Emancipation of Billy 4⭐
The Enchanted Kiss 3.5⭐
A Departmental Case 4⭐
The Renaissance at Charleroi 3.25⭐
On Behalf of the Management 3.5⭐
Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking 4.25⭐
The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss 3.25⭐
Two Renegades 3.5⭐
The Lonesome Road 3⭐
April 21, 2024
O. Henry's "Roads of Destiny" is a collection of 26 stories varies with romance, Westerns, mysteries, soldiers of fortunes and tramps. I just wish I could watch the silent film and wonder what direction they took. Love O. Henry's stories!
Highlights and synopsis from Delphi collection of his works
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
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O. Henry’s sixth short story collection was first published in 1909 and contains 26 tales, mostly based in New York, following the same format as his successful The Four Million collection. The title story was made into a 1921 silent film, produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures, directed by Frank Lloyd and starring actress Pauline Frederick.
Short stories from collection below
ROADS OF DESTINY -All the branches - David fights with his girlfriend and leaves home.
THE LEFT BRANCH -David helps a young niece is this a good choice?
THE RIGHT BRANCH -David takes another road but ends up in trouble with the King?
THE MAIN ROAD - David has another fate on this road.
THE GUARDIAN OF THE ACCOLADE- Is the bank owner embezzling?
THE DISCOUNTERS OF MONEY -Can money buy you love?
THE ENCHANTED PROFILE -Is Ida's boss rich woman?
“NEXT TO READING MATTER” -Will the ugly or handsome man win the girl?
ART AND THE BRONCO -Political barter at its best?
PHŒBE -Is a star the cause of bad luck?
A DOUBLE-DYED DECEIVER - Is a kid a scoundrel?
THE PASSING OF BLACK EAGLE -Is the the terror really that?
A RETRIEVED REFORMATION - A safe cracker falls in love with a bankers daughter.
CHERCHEZ LA FEMME - A detective and mystery are combined.
FRIENDS IN SAN ROSARIO -Troubles when a bank examiner comes to town.
THE FOURTH IN SALVADOR - July 4 adventures in another country.
THE EMANCIPATION OF BILLY -Is Billy always just the governor's son?
THE ENCHANTED KISS -Sam is in love but very shy.
A DEPARTMENTAL CASE -An old friends daughter is in trouble.
BENTON SHARP MEETS HIS MATCH -Finishing up "A Departmental Case" short story.
THE RENAISSANCE AT CHARLEROI -A sister waits for a long lost brother to return.
ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGEMENT -Election troubles
WHISTLING DICK’S CHRISTMAS STOCKING - Christmas with bandits
THE HALBERDIER OF THE LITTLE RHEINSCHLOSS -A love story concerning a restaurant
TWO RENEGADES - When abroad and your government gives you no hope.
THE LONESOME ROAD- A hen pecked husband and bachelor friend go out
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ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGEMENT
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I had it from Sully Magoon, viva voce. The words are indeed his; and if they do not constitute truthful fiction my memory should be taxed with the blame.
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“‘I’ve been manager here for a year,’ says Denver, as we drew nigh. ‘When I took charge,’ says he, ‘nobody nor nothing ever stopped at the Brunswick. The clock over the clerks’ desk used to run for weeks without winding. A man fell dead with heart-disease on the sidewalk in front of it one day, and when they went to pick him up he was two blocks away. I figured out a scheme to catch the West Indies and South American trade. I persuaded the owners to invest a few more thousands, and I put every cent of it in electric lights, cayenne pepper, gold-leaf, and garlic. I got a Spanish-speaking force of employees and a string band; and there was talk going round of a cockfight in the basement every Sunday. Maybe I didn’t catch the nut-brown gang! From Havana to Patagonia the Don Señors knew about the Brunswick. We get the highfliers from Cuba and Mexico and the couple of Americas farther south; and they’ve simply got the boodle to bombard every bulfinch in the bush with.’ “When we got to the hotel, Denver stops me at the door.
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Sully,’ says he, with seriousness and levity, ‘I’ve been a manager of one thing and another for over twenty years. That’s what I was
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cut out for — to have somebody else to put up the money and look after the repairs and the police and taxes while I run the business. I never had a dollar of my own invested in my life. I wouldn’t know how it felt to have the dealer rake in a coin of mine. But I can handle other people’s stuff and manage other people’s enterprises. I’ve had an ambition to get hold of something big — something higher than hotels and lumber-yards and local politics. I want to be manager of something way up — like a railroad
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or a diamond trust or an automobile factory. Now here comes this little man from the tropics with just what I want, and he’s offered me the job.’
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“‘He’s no ‘coon,’ says Denver. ‘He’s General Rompiro — General Josey Alfonso Sapolio Jew-Ann Rompiro — he has his cards printed by a news-ticker. He’s the real thing, Sully, and he wants me to manage his campaign — he wants Denver
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C. Galloway for a president-maker. Think of that, Sully! Old Denver romping down to the tropics, plucking lotus-flowers and pineapples with one hand and making presidents with the other! Won’t it make Uncle Mark Hanna mad? And I want you to go too, Sully. You can help me more than any man I know.
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“‘Wasn’t I just giving you his rating?’ says Denver. ‘His country is one of the few in South America where the presidents are elected by popular ballot. The General can’t go there just now. It hurts to be shot against a wall. He needs a campaign manager to go down and whoop things up for him — to get the boys in line and the new two-dollar bills afloat and the babies kissed and the
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machine in running order. Sully, I don’t want to brag, but you remember how I brought Coughlin under the wire for leader of the nineteenth? Ours was the banner district. Don’t you suppose I know how to manage a little monkey-cage of a country like that? Why, with the dough the General’s willing to turn loose I could put two more coats of Japan varnish on him and have him elected Governor of Georgia.
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“Before the three days was up I decided to join Denver in his campaign. Denver got three months’ vacation from his hotel owners. For a week we lived in a room with the General, and got all the pointers about his country that we could interpret from the noises he made.
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When we got ready to start, Denver had a pocket full of memorandums, and letters from the General to his friends, and a list of names and addresses of loyal politicians who would help along the boom of the exiled popular idol. Besides these liabilities we carried assets to the amount of $20,000 in assorted United States currency.
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Here is moneys,’ says the General, ‘of a small amount. There is more with me — moocho more. Plentee moneys shall you be supplied, Señor Galloway. More I shall send you at all times that you need. I shall desire to pay feefty — one hundred thousand pesos, if necessario, to be elect. How no? Sacramento! If that I am president and do not make one meelion dolla in the one year you shall keek me on that side! — valgame Dios!’
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“In a few more days the campaign managers from the other towns came sliding into Esperitu. Our
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headquarters was a busy place. We had an interpreter, and ice-water, and drinks, and cigars, and Denver flashed the General’s roll so often that it got so small you couldn’t have bought a Republican vote in Ohio with it.
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“Denver went ahead and worked things smooth. He dealt out money on the quiet to his lieutenants, and they were always coming after it. There was free drinks for everybody in town, and bands playing every night, and fireworks, and there was a lot of heelers going around buying up votes day and night for the new style of politics in Espiritu, and everybody liked it. “The day set for the election was November 4th. On the night before Denver and me were smoking our pipes in headquarters, and in comes
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Hicks and unjoints himself, and sits in a chair, mournful. Denver is cheerful and confident. ‘Rompiro will win in a romp,’ says he. ‘We’ll carry the country by 10,000. It’s all over but the vivas. To-morrow will tell the tale.’ “‘What’s going to happen to-morrow?’ asks Hicks. “‘Why, the presidential election, of course,’ says Denver. “‘Say,’ says Hicks, looking kind of funny, ‘didn’t anybody tell you fellows that the election was held a week before you came? Congress changed the date to July 27th. Roadrickeys was elected by 17,000. I thought you was booming old Rompiro for next term, two years from now. Wondered if you was going to keep up such a hot lick that long.’ “I dropped my pipe on the floor. Denver bit the stem off of his. Neither of us said anything. “And then I heard a sound like somebody ripping a clapboard off of a barn-roof. ’Twas Hicks laughing for the first time in eight years.”
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Sully Magoon paused while the waiter poured us a black coffee. “Your friend was, indeed, something of a manager,” I said. “Wait a minute,” said Sully, “I haven’t given you any idea of what he could do yet. That’s all to come. “When we got back to New York there was General Rompiro waiting for us on the pier. He was dancing like a cinnamon bear, all impatient for the news, for Denver had just cabled him when we would arrive and nothing more.
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“‘Am I elect?’ he shouts. ‘Am I elect, friend of mine? Is that mine country have demand General Rompiro for the president? The last dollar of mine have I sent you that last time. It is necessario that I am elect. I have not more money. Am I elect, Señor Galloway?’ “Denver turns to me. “‘Leave me with old Rompey, Sully,’ he says. ‘I’ve got to break it to him gently. ’Twould be indecent for other eyes to witness the operation. This is the time, Sully,’ says he, ‘when old Denver has got to
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make good as a jollier and a silver-tongued sorcerer, or else give up all the medals he’s earned.’ “A couple of days later I went around to the hotel. There was Denver in his old place, looking like the hero of two historical novels, and telling ’em what a fine time he’d had down on his orange plantation in Florida. “‘Did you fix things up with the General?’ I asks him. “‘Did I?’ says Denver. ‘Come and see.’
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“He takes me by the arm and walks me to the dining-room door. There was a little chocolate-brown fat man in a dress suit, with his face shining with joy as he swelled himself and skipped about the floor. Danged if Denver hadn’t made General Rompiro head waiter of the Hotel Brunswick!” “Is Mr. Galloway still in the managing business?” I asked, as Mr. Magoon ceased. Sully shook his head. “Denver married an auburn-haired widow that owns a big hotel
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in Harlem. He just helps around the place.”
*** A manager of a hotel, who is able to sell which made the hotel prosper, is selected by a General from South America to help elect him in his country but he cannot go back until elected for fear of being imprisoned. He gives his money to Denver who has his friend Sully help him elect the General, who gave the money to his manager but after the manager comes back empty handed after trying to win votes but the election was a week before they came and the man that knew of this when they came left laughing after he learned it was not for the election 2 years later.
Highlights and synopsis from Delphi collection of his works
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
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O. Henry’s sixth short story collection was first published in 1909 and contains 26 tales, mostly based in New York, following the same format as his successful The Four Million collection. The title story was made into a 1921 silent film, produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures, directed by Frank Lloyd and starring actress Pauline Frederick.
Short stories from collection below
ROADS OF DESTINY -All the branches - David fights with his girlfriend and leaves home.
THE LEFT BRANCH -David helps a young niece is this a good choice?
THE RIGHT BRANCH -David takes another road but ends up in trouble with the King?
THE MAIN ROAD - David has another fate on this road.
THE GUARDIAN OF THE ACCOLADE- Is the bank owner embezzling?
THE DISCOUNTERS OF MONEY -Can money buy you love?
THE ENCHANTED PROFILE -Is Ida's boss rich woman?
“NEXT TO READING MATTER” -Will the ugly or handsome man win the girl?
ART AND THE BRONCO -Political barter at its best?
PHŒBE -Is a star the cause of bad luck?
A DOUBLE-DYED DECEIVER - Is a kid a scoundrel?
THE PASSING OF BLACK EAGLE -Is the the terror really that?
A RETRIEVED REFORMATION - A safe cracker falls in love with a bankers daughter.
CHERCHEZ LA FEMME - A detective and mystery are combined.
FRIENDS IN SAN ROSARIO -Troubles when a bank examiner comes to town.
THE FOURTH IN SALVADOR - July 4 adventures in another country.
THE EMANCIPATION OF BILLY -Is Billy always just the governor's son?
THE ENCHANTED KISS -Sam is in love but very shy.
A DEPARTMENTAL CASE -An old friends daughter is in trouble.
BENTON SHARP MEETS HIS MATCH -Finishing up "A Departmental Case" short story.
THE RENAISSANCE AT CHARLEROI -A sister waits for a long lost brother to return.
ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGEMENT -Election troubles
WHISTLING DICK’S CHRISTMAS STOCKING - Christmas with bandits
THE HALBERDIER OF THE LITTLE RHEINSCHLOSS -A love story concerning a restaurant
TWO RENEGADES - When abroad and your government gives you no hope.
THE LONESOME ROAD- A hen pecked husband and bachelor friend go out
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ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGEMENT
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I had it from Sully Magoon, viva voce. The words are indeed his; and if they do not constitute truthful fiction my memory should be taxed with the blame.
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“‘I’ve been manager here for a year,’ says Denver, as we drew nigh. ‘When I took charge,’ says he, ‘nobody nor nothing ever stopped at the Brunswick. The clock over the clerks’ desk used to run for weeks without winding. A man fell dead with heart-disease on the sidewalk in front of it one day, and when they went to pick him up he was two blocks away. I figured out a scheme to catch the West Indies and South American trade. I persuaded the owners to invest a few more thousands, and I put every cent of it in electric lights, cayenne pepper, gold-leaf, and garlic. I got a Spanish-speaking force of employees and a string band; and there was talk going round of a cockfight in the basement every Sunday. Maybe I didn’t catch the nut-brown gang! From Havana to Patagonia the Don Señors knew about the Brunswick. We get the highfliers from Cuba and Mexico and the couple of Americas farther south; and they’ve simply got the boodle to bombard every bulfinch in the bush with.’ “When we got to the hotel, Denver stops me at the door.
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Sully,’ says he, with seriousness and levity, ‘I’ve been a manager of one thing and another for over twenty years. That’s what I was
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cut out for — to have somebody else to put up the money and look after the repairs and the police and taxes while I run the business. I never had a dollar of my own invested in my life. I wouldn’t know how it felt to have the dealer rake in a coin of mine. But I can handle other people’s stuff and manage other people’s enterprises. I’ve had an ambition to get hold of something big — something higher than hotels and lumber-yards and local politics. I want to be manager of something way up — like a railroad
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or a diamond trust or an automobile factory. Now here comes this little man from the tropics with just what I want, and he’s offered me the job.’
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“‘He’s no ‘coon,’ says Denver. ‘He’s General Rompiro — General Josey Alfonso Sapolio Jew-Ann Rompiro — he has his cards printed by a news-ticker. He’s the real thing, Sully, and he wants me to manage his campaign — he wants Denver
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C. Galloway for a president-maker. Think of that, Sully! Old Denver romping down to the tropics, plucking lotus-flowers and pineapples with one hand and making presidents with the other! Won’t it make Uncle Mark Hanna mad? And I want you to go too, Sully. You can help me more than any man I know.
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“‘Wasn’t I just giving you his rating?’ says Denver. ‘His country is one of the few in South America where the presidents are elected by popular ballot. The General can’t go there just now. It hurts to be shot against a wall. He needs a campaign manager to go down and whoop things up for him — to get the boys in line and the new two-dollar bills afloat and the babies kissed and the
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machine in running order. Sully, I don’t want to brag, but you remember how I brought Coughlin under the wire for leader of the nineteenth? Ours was the banner district. Don’t you suppose I know how to manage a little monkey-cage of a country like that? Why, with the dough the General’s willing to turn loose I could put two more coats of Japan varnish on him and have him elected Governor of Georgia.
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“Before the three days was up I decided to join Denver in his campaign. Denver got three months’ vacation from his hotel owners. For a week we lived in a room with the General, and got all the pointers about his country that we could interpret from the noises he made.
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When we got ready to start, Denver had a pocket full of memorandums, and letters from the General to his friends, and a list of names and addresses of loyal politicians who would help along the boom of the exiled popular idol. Besides these liabilities we carried assets to the amount of $20,000 in assorted United States currency.
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Here is moneys,’ says the General, ‘of a small amount. There is more with me — moocho more. Plentee moneys shall you be supplied, Señor Galloway. More I shall send you at all times that you need. I shall desire to pay feefty — one hundred thousand pesos, if necessario, to be elect. How no? Sacramento! If that I am president and do not make one meelion dolla in the one year you shall keek me on that side! — valgame Dios!’
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“In a few more days the campaign managers from the other towns came sliding into Esperitu. Our
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headquarters was a busy place. We had an interpreter, and ice-water, and drinks, and cigars, and Denver flashed the General’s roll so often that it got so small you couldn’t have bought a Republican vote in Ohio with it.
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“Denver went ahead and worked things smooth. He dealt out money on the quiet to his lieutenants, and they were always coming after it. There was free drinks for everybody in town, and bands playing every night, and fireworks, and there was a lot of heelers going around buying up votes day and night for the new style of politics in Espiritu, and everybody liked it. “The day set for the election was November 4th. On the night before Denver and me were smoking our pipes in headquarters, and in comes
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Hicks and unjoints himself, and sits in a chair, mournful. Denver is cheerful and confident. ‘Rompiro will win in a romp,’ says he. ‘We’ll carry the country by 10,000. It’s all over but the vivas. To-morrow will tell the tale.’ “‘What’s going to happen to-morrow?’ asks Hicks. “‘Why, the presidential election, of course,’ says Denver. “‘Say,’ says Hicks, looking kind of funny, ‘didn’t anybody tell you fellows that the election was held a week before you came? Congress changed the date to July 27th. Roadrickeys was elected by 17,000. I thought you was booming old Rompiro for next term, two years from now. Wondered if you was going to keep up such a hot lick that long.’ “I dropped my pipe on the floor. Denver bit the stem off of his. Neither of us said anything. “And then I heard a sound like somebody ripping a clapboard off of a barn-roof. ’Twas Hicks laughing for the first time in eight years.”
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 18049
Sully Magoon paused while the waiter poured us a black coffee. “Your friend was, indeed, something of a manager,” I said. “Wait a minute,” said Sully, “I haven’t given you any idea of what he could do yet. That’s all to come. “When we got back to New York there was General Rompiro waiting for us on the pier. He was dancing like a cinnamon bear, all impatient for the news, for Denver had just cabled him when we would arrive and nothing more.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 18053
“‘Am I elect?’ he shouts. ‘Am I elect, friend of mine? Is that mine country have demand General Rompiro for the president? The last dollar of mine have I sent you that last time. It is necessario that I am elect. I have not more money. Am I elect, Señor Galloway?’ “Denver turns to me. “‘Leave me with old Rompey, Sully,’ he says. ‘I’ve got to break it to him gently. ’Twould be indecent for other eyes to witness the operation. This is the time, Sully,’ says he, ‘when old Denver has got to
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 18057
make good as a jollier and a silver-tongued sorcerer, or else give up all the medals he’s earned.’ “A couple of days later I went around to the hotel. There was Denver in his old place, looking like the hero of two historical novels, and telling ’em what a fine time he’d had down on his orange plantation in Florida. “‘Did you fix things up with the General?’ I asks him. “‘Did I?’ says Denver. ‘Come and see.’
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 18062
“He takes me by the arm and walks me to the dining-room door. There was a little chocolate-brown fat man in a dress suit, with his face shining with joy as he swelled himself and skipped about the floor. Danged if Denver hadn’t made General Rompiro head waiter of the Hotel Brunswick!” “Is Mr. Galloway still in the managing business?” I asked, as Mr. Magoon ceased. Sully shook his head. “Denver married an auburn-haired widow that owns a big hotel
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 18066
in Harlem. He just helps around the place.”
*** A manager of a hotel, who is able to sell which made the hotel prosper, is selected by a General from South America to help elect him in his country but he cannot go back until elected for fear of being imprisoned. He gives his money to Denver who has his friend Sully help him elect the General, who gave the money to his manager but after the manager comes back empty handed after trying to win votes but the election was a week before they came and the man that knew of this when they came left laughing after he learned it was not for the election 2 years later.
August 27, 2023
This is the title story of the volume Roads of Destiny a collection of short stories. It is an allegorical story in nature, one which suggests that the choice is not so much among different fates as among different versions of the same fate. This story explores three different versions of David's fate, ultimately leading to his unescapable destiny.
David Mignot is a shepherd from Vernoy, a small village in France who wants to be a poet. When he quarrels with his fiancé Yvonne, he decides to leave home and look for "fame and honor in the great world outside". Davd is a poet, which greatly affects his personality making him romantic and easy going. David comes to the first fork and sees three roads. This is the first serious choice on his way. Further, in the story, David will have to choose the path each time and this will lead him to new adventures and unexpected acquaintances. On his first choice he chooses the left branch. He meets an aristocrat the Marquis de Beaupertuys, who promised to marry his daughter off to the first man they came across. And this is just the beginning of David's journey as he comes back to the fork in the road to choose another branch and another adventure.
David Mignot is a shepherd from Vernoy, a small village in France who wants to be a poet. When he quarrels with his fiancé Yvonne, he decides to leave home and look for "fame and honor in the great world outside". Davd is a poet, which greatly affects his personality making him romantic and easy going. David comes to the first fork and sees three roads. This is the first serious choice on his way. Further, in the story, David will have to choose the path each time and this will lead him to new adventures and unexpected acquaintances. On his first choice he chooses the left branch. He meets an aristocrat the Marquis de Beaupertuys, who promised to marry his daughter off to the first man they came across. And this is just the beginning of David's journey as he comes back to the fork in the road to choose another branch and another adventure.
April 21, 2018
I loved this story. The message is a little bit "discouraging" but really interesting.
It's a story about our Destiny. Can we fight against our fate?
________
Me ha encontado esta historia. El mensaje es un poco "descorazonador" pero realmente interesante. Es una historia sobre nuestro destino. ¿Podemos luchar contra nuestro destino?
It's a story about our Destiny. Can we fight against our fate?
________
Me ha encontado esta historia. El mensaje es un poco "descorazonador" pero realmente interesante. Es una historia sobre nuestro destino. ¿Podemos luchar contra nuestro destino?
August 16, 2018
Of the several O. Henry short story books I have read, this is one of the best! It seems to be works he wrote during the prime of his career. Most are more "masculine" stories about accomplishments, rather than love stories.
November 4, 2010
I really liked these short stories of ordinary American life. I'm not really a short story person so I didn't read them all but got about half way through.
Read
May 24, 2013I think this srory it´s really diferent from the ones i´m accostume but it´s classic reading, and it has a great final
August 15, 2017
One of the best short stories I've ever read. You cannot escape your destiny.
January 17, 2024
moraleja: no seas poeta
September 5, 2025
Jeez O. Henry could write. So many thoughts. Please forgive any misspellings or words that are mistyped.
O. HENRY THE MAN, THE WRITER
For those who don't know about O. Henry, he was a short story writer at the start of the 20th century. His stories often had a surprise twist. Like an early M Night Shyamalan but without the sucky stretch. O Henry's most famous story is the Gift of the Magi with the hair combs and the watch chain.
O. Henry was a pen name. He lived quite a life (including being a pharmacist, ranch hand, bureaucrat, publisher, fugitive and convict) before becoming O. Henry the famous short story writer living in New York City aka The Four Million.
If you have never read any O. Henry, check out After Twenty Years https://americanenglish.state.gov/fil... . It should only take 5 to 10 minutes to read the whole thing. A grade school teacher read it to our class 40 years ago and I became a fan.
When enough short stories were published in magazines, they were released in book form. Roads of Destiny is one of those.
ROADS OF DESTINY THE BOOK
The unrelated stories take place all over. France, New Orleans, South America, New York City, Texas, and are all places where O. Henry lived at some point.
The stories that take place in NYC are my favorites. They are densely packed with jokes and references, most of which are lost to the ages. It's like listening to a Dennis Miller monologue back in the 80s or a Highway 61 Revisited era Bob Dylan song. The man could put words together.
These stories are over 110 years old, and some things are dated, but unlike Charles Dickens, some of which can a chore to plow through, remain wonderfully readable. And most of the stories did have a twist. It was an enjoyable ride.
ABOUT THE EDITIONS I HAVE
Edition 1
Somewhere along the line at a thrift store or similar, I picked up 3 of the novel length short story collections, all with matching bindings. The book I have was published in 1919 and features a stupid illustration at the beginning with a line from one of the stories. The line contains the N word. For better or worse, it is captured here https://archive.org/details/roadsdest...
Was O. Henry a racist? Did I have to reconsider liking him? The few instances of the N word are all spoken by characters not by the narrator. The story in question is near the end and among the weakest of the lot. Unlike Ian Flemming who's voice as a narrator comes off as the racist he was, O. Henry remains likeable.
Sign of the times, oh the irony - so the book has the N word but when it came to printing "damn", they printed it as "d--n". We've come a long way as a country. Thank God.
Edition 2: Masters Library Edition
Way before ebooks and the Worldwide Web, in the 1980s Masters Library would give old time American authors the big leather bound treatment. Sort of a CD box set, but for books. Stamped on the back, in gold, is "BONDED LEATHER". I guess I should look up what the bonded part of that means.
When I was in college, after reading about it in the Sunday paper, I asked for the just released O. Henry edition for Xmas. I expected someday I would read it. It only took 30+ years for me to get to it. This edition has most but not all of the book length collections.
After starting the 1919 printed book, I realized it was in BONDED LEATHER so I switched.
BONDED LEATHER omits the offensive illustration but keeps the N word and the original printing of d--n.
Edition 3: Free eBook
I was in the middle of reading this when I headed out of town. Rather than lug the big leather book with me, I downloaded the in public domain eBook onto my tablet. I switched back the BONDED LEATHER when I got home, mostly because the tablet stays on the other floor of our house.
While at it, I downloaded rest of O. Henry's books. I have set aside the trio of matching books for donation to the used book store. I'm keeping the BONDED LEATHER version and will read the rest of the books in it over the next year or so, while mixing up my reading with other writers.
O. HENRY THE MAN, THE WRITER
For those who don't know about O. Henry, he was a short story writer at the start of the 20th century. His stories often had a surprise twist. Like an early M Night Shyamalan but without the sucky stretch. O Henry's most famous story is the Gift of the Magi with the hair combs and the watch chain.
O. Henry was a pen name. He lived quite a life (including being a pharmacist, ranch hand, bureaucrat, publisher, fugitive and convict) before becoming O. Henry the famous short story writer living in New York City aka The Four Million.
If you have never read any O. Henry, check out After Twenty Years https://americanenglish.state.gov/fil... . It should only take 5 to 10 minutes to read the whole thing. A grade school teacher read it to our class 40 years ago and I became a fan.
When enough short stories were published in magazines, they were released in book form. Roads of Destiny is one of those.
ROADS OF DESTINY THE BOOK
The unrelated stories take place all over. France, New Orleans, South America, New York City, Texas, and are all places where O. Henry lived at some point.
The stories that take place in NYC are my favorites. They are densely packed with jokes and references, most of which are lost to the ages. It's like listening to a Dennis Miller monologue back in the 80s or a Highway 61 Revisited era Bob Dylan song. The man could put words together.
These stories are over 110 years old, and some things are dated, but unlike Charles Dickens, some of which can a chore to plow through, remain wonderfully readable. And most of the stories did have a twist. It was an enjoyable ride.
ABOUT THE EDITIONS I HAVE
Edition 1
Somewhere along the line at a thrift store or similar, I picked up 3 of the novel length short story collections, all with matching bindings. The book I have was published in 1919 and features a stupid illustration at the beginning with a line from one of the stories. The line contains the N word. For better or worse, it is captured here https://archive.org/details/roadsdest...
Was O. Henry a racist? Did I have to reconsider liking him? The few instances of the N word are all spoken by characters not by the narrator. The story in question is near the end and among the weakest of the lot. Unlike Ian Flemming who's voice as a narrator comes off as the racist he was, O. Henry remains likeable.
Sign of the times, oh the irony - so the book has the N word but when it came to printing "damn", they printed it as "d--n". We've come a long way as a country. Thank God.
Edition 2: Masters Library Edition
Way before ebooks and the Worldwide Web, in the 1980s Masters Library would give old time American authors the big leather bound treatment. Sort of a CD box set, but for books. Stamped on the back, in gold, is "BONDED LEATHER". I guess I should look up what the bonded part of that means.
When I was in college, after reading about it in the Sunday paper, I asked for the just released O. Henry edition for Xmas. I expected someday I would read it. It only took 30+ years for me to get to it. This edition has most but not all of the book length collections.
After starting the 1919 printed book, I realized it was in BONDED LEATHER so I switched.
BONDED LEATHER omits the offensive illustration but keeps the N word and the original printing of d--n.
Edition 3: Free eBook
I was in the middle of reading this when I headed out of town. Rather than lug the big leather book with me, I downloaded the in public domain eBook onto my tablet. I switched back the BONDED LEATHER when I got home, mostly because the tablet stays on the other floor of our house.
While at it, I downloaded rest of O. Henry's books. I have set aside the trio of matching books for donation to the used book store. I'm keeping the BONDED LEATHER version and will read the rest of the books in it over the next year or so, while mixing up my reading with other writers.
April 13, 2026
I got the idea to read some O. Henry during our time last year in Manhattan. While wandering around Gramercy Park, we happened upon Pete's Tavern, where the author allegedly scribbled out his stories, including his famous The Gift of the Magi.
The twenty-two stories in this collection were all good. My two favorites were A Retrieved Reformation and Friends in San Rosario. The language is peppered with slang and colorful metaphors:
The twenty-two stories in this collection were all good. My two favorites were A Retrieved Reformation and Friends in San Rosario. The language is peppered with slang and colorful metaphors:
Almost every story included the trademark twist in the last few lines. After reading the first ten stories, this became predictable and a little tiresome. I got the feeling that O. Henry was cranking out these stories on a deadline in the smoky confines of that old tavern, probably after a few beers. There's genius here, but it's formulaic. It's maybe best to dip in and out of these stories when the mood strikes, not straight through like I did."I was coming out of a printing-shop one afternoon with a batch of fine, sticky prospectuses when I ran against Denver coming round a corner. I never saw him looking so much like a tiger-lily. He was as beautiful and new as a trellis of sweet peas, and as rollicking as a clarinet solo."
March 30, 2021
One of the official collections of O. Henry’s short stories. Several are somewhat atypical from his usual compositions. There are fewer stories that have the surprise twist at the end (although some do), and the humor less frequently relies on the malapropisms of the teamless semi-educated hobos, although once again such characters do appear in some stories. There are a significant percentage of straightforward stories with a vein of literary realism, which I believe elevates his overall craftsmanship to consideration with the great realists of he era, such as William Dean Howells and Mark Twain. This collection reminded me of one of his other collections, Heart of the West, and many of the stories do take place in Southern and Western settings.
July 23, 2023
Nice collection of O. Henry stories
Roads of Destiny provides an entertaining collection of O. Henry stories with some good ones and some not so great ones. You won't find many of the heavily anthologized classics in here, but there are some real gems scattered around especially later on.
However, many of the stories do date very badly, especially in terms of racial matters. There are a lot of jarring references, stereotypes and racial epithets used for the Black and Hispanic characters and idealizations of the antebellum South that all but ruin a number of the stories. With that warning in mind, this is a pretty good collection, especially for O. Henry fans.
Roads of Destiny provides an entertaining collection of O. Henry stories with some good ones and some not so great ones. You won't find many of the heavily anthologized classics in here, but there are some real gems scattered around especially later on.
However, many of the stories do date very badly, especially in terms of racial matters. There are a lot of jarring references, stereotypes and racial epithets used for the Black and Hispanic characters and idealizations of the antebellum South that all but ruin a number of the stories. With that warning in mind, this is a pretty good collection, especially for O. Henry fans.
October 2, 2019
So interesting. Henry essentially writes long, drawn out jokes ending with a one-line punchline. He’s obviously talented, uses lots of big words and educated references, and at times writes in the vernacular. Yet this book became tedious for me to read. There is a fair amount of casual racism indicative of the era in which he wrote, and wading through a story was often not worth the surprise ending. So, there you go.
April 15, 2019
More great stories from the master of the short story, these all featured sweet and honest con men getting the better of a situation by sheer luck or clever shenanigans. Not a page turner but a solid collection.
Also wouldn’t these stories make a good TV anthology with one charming character (think Zachary Levi) experiencing all these close calls?
Also wouldn’t these stories make a good TV anthology with one charming character (think Zachary Levi) experiencing all these close calls?
June 12, 2022
4.5⭐
I really enjoyed this story, it's short but so interesting!
I really enjoyed this story, it's short but so interesting!
July 23, 2022
Each story has a deep message, and ends with a gasp or a sweet surprise, or an involuntary “aww Henry” or a smile and sometimes a laugh.
October 7, 2023
Just the short story not the collection
April 21, 2024
Interesante. Atrapante. Invita a leer y conocer al escritor estadounidense O’Henry.
January 23, 2026
The Roads of Destiny - it doesn't matter which road you take; when it's your time it is your time. While I didn't enjoy the writing as well in this story, I enjoyed the story itself. The poor poet.
March 6, 2020
A collection of short fiction by O. Henry. This is my first direct exposure to O. Henry's work, and I can definitely see the appeal of his writing style. Henry's more humorous pieces remind me of Mark Twain in their ability to fill the gaps with subtle humor of a wise-crack variety, while the more preachy plot-twists feel more heavy-handed. I can definitely see my self reading more of his work. In this collection:
Roads of Destiny - Told in four parts (the other three being The Left Branch, The Right Branch, and The Main Road), a metaphorical tale about the inability to escape one's destiny. One of Henry's less than uplifting tales. Themes: Fate, Art (Poetry)
The Guardian of the Accolade - A misunderstanding results in the right outcome, albeit for the wrong reasons, with some rather unfortunate dialogue.Themes: Vice/Virtue, Misunderstanding, Banks
The Discounters of Money - A rich young man learns what money can't buy. Themes: Money, Romance
The Enchanted Profile - A stenographer becomes the unwitting obsession of a miserly spinster for all of the wrong reasons. Themes: Money, Romance
Next to Reading Matter - A sort of retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac as a cough drops ad, more or less. This one was a tad underwhelming. Themes: Con Artists
Art and the Bronco - Artistic aspirations and political manipulations come to blows. One common thread popping up in many of these stories involves individuals with artistic aspirations that lack the talent to follow their muse, usually with the message being that common folk shouldn't try to be artists; a strange position for a writer to come from. Themes: Art (Painting), Bureaucracy
Phoebe - The story of Bad-Luck Kearny, born under an unlucky star. Themes: Fate, Revolution
A Double-Dyed Deceiver - A con-job goes wrong. Or does it? Themes: Con Artists, Fate
The Passing of Black Eagle - A Rags to Riches story, of sorts, regarding the sudden arrival and mysterious disappearance of an outlaw legend. Themes: Con Artists, Derelicts
A Retrieved Reformation - A notorious safe-cracker takes a stab at the straight and narrow. Themes: Redemption, Criminals
Cherchez La Femme - Two reporters attempt to find the woman behind a dead man's missing fortune. Themes: Misunderstanding, Money
Friends in San Rosario - A bank examiner is treated to a tale of friendship upon finding a shortfall. Themes: Loyalty, Bureaucracy, Banks
The Fourth in Salvador - An Independence Day celebration by a handful of patriots in a banana republic gets a little out of hand. Themes: Patriotism, Bureaucracy, Revolution
The Emancipation of Billy - A father/son story, Themes: Community, Family
The Enchanted Kiss - Another story about romance and fate, feels very similar to Roads of Destiny. Themes: Fate, Romance
A Departmental Case - An aging cowboy turned federal employee tries to cut through the red tape to help an old friend's daughter. Themes: Loyalty, Bureaucracy
The Renaissance at Charleroi - A weird little parable about fading royalty and lost family, the ending is a bit too predictable. Themes: Romance, Family, Derelicts
On Behalf of the Management - A tale of third-world politics and the management of men. Themes: Bureaucracy, Business, Revolution
Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking - A Hobo's Christmas Eve adventures. Themes: Derelicts, Redemption
The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss - A "Prince and the Pauper" type story, this one is probably more entertaining than it should be due to the main narrator, Waiter Eighteen. Themes: Rich/Poor
Two Renegades - A converted confederate explains to an old friend why he left the North for the South. Cute story. Themes: Revolution, Military, Bureaucracy
The Lonesome Road - A yarn about committing matrimony in the old west. One of my favorite in this collection.
Roads of Destiny - Told in four parts (the other three being The Left Branch, The Right Branch, and The Main Road), a metaphorical tale about the inability to escape one's destiny. One of Henry's less than uplifting tales. Themes: Fate, Art (Poetry)
The Guardian of the Accolade - A misunderstanding results in the right outcome, albeit for the wrong reasons, with some rather unfortunate dialogue.Themes: Vice/Virtue, Misunderstanding, Banks
The Discounters of Money - A rich young man learns what money can't buy. Themes: Money, Romance
The Enchanted Profile - A stenographer becomes the unwitting obsession of a miserly spinster for all of the wrong reasons. Themes: Money, Romance
Next to Reading Matter - A sort of retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac as a cough drops ad, more or less. This one was a tad underwhelming. Themes: Con Artists
Art and the Bronco - Artistic aspirations and political manipulations come to blows. One common thread popping up in many of these stories involves individuals with artistic aspirations that lack the talent to follow their muse, usually with the message being that common folk shouldn't try to be artists; a strange position for a writer to come from. Themes: Art (Painting), Bureaucracy
Phoebe - The story of Bad-Luck Kearny, born under an unlucky star. Themes: Fate, Revolution
A Double-Dyed Deceiver - A con-job goes wrong. Or does it? Themes: Con Artists, Fate
The Passing of Black Eagle - A Rags to Riches story, of sorts, regarding the sudden arrival and mysterious disappearance of an outlaw legend. Themes: Con Artists, Derelicts
A Retrieved Reformation - A notorious safe-cracker takes a stab at the straight and narrow. Themes: Redemption, Criminals
Cherchez La Femme - Two reporters attempt to find the woman behind a dead man's missing fortune. Themes: Misunderstanding, Money
Friends in San Rosario - A bank examiner is treated to a tale of friendship upon finding a shortfall. Themes: Loyalty, Bureaucracy, Banks
The Fourth in Salvador - An Independence Day celebration by a handful of patriots in a banana republic gets a little out of hand. Themes: Patriotism, Bureaucracy, Revolution
The Emancipation of Billy - A father/son story, Themes: Community, Family
The Enchanted Kiss - Another story about romance and fate, feels very similar to Roads of Destiny. Themes: Fate, Romance
A Departmental Case - An aging cowboy turned federal employee tries to cut through the red tape to help an old friend's daughter. Themes: Loyalty, Bureaucracy
The Renaissance at Charleroi - A weird little parable about fading royalty and lost family, the ending is a bit too predictable. Themes: Romance, Family, Derelicts
On Behalf of the Management - A tale of third-world politics and the management of men. Themes: Bureaucracy, Business, Revolution
Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking - A Hobo's Christmas Eve adventures. Themes: Derelicts, Redemption
The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss - A "Prince and the Pauper" type story, this one is probably more entertaining than it should be due to the main narrator, Waiter Eighteen. Themes: Rich/Poor
Two Renegades - A converted confederate explains to an old friend why he left the North for the South. Cute story. Themes: Revolution, Military, Bureaucracy
The Lonesome Road - A yarn about committing matrimony in the old west. One of my favorite in this collection.
Want to Read
August 5, 2012Henry, O.
The Complete Works of O. Henry
In compilation only.
1) Roads of Destiny
2) The Guardian of the Accolade
3) The Discounters of Money
4) The Enchanted Profile
5) "Next to Reading Matter"
6) Art and the Bronco
7) Phoebe
8) A Double-Dyed Deceiver
9) The Passing of Black Eagle
10) A Retrieved Reformation
11) Cherchez la Femme
12) Friends in San Rosario
13) The Fourth in Salvador
14) The Emancipation of Billy
15) The Enchanted Kiss
16) A Departmental Case
17) The Renaissance at Charleroi
18) On Behalf of the Management
19) Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking
20) The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss
21) Two Grenades
22) The Lonesome Road
The Complete Works of O. Henry
In compilation only.
1) Roads of Destiny
2) The Guardian of the Accolade
3) The Discounters of Money
4) The Enchanted Profile
5) "Next to Reading Matter"
6) Art and the Bronco
7) Phoebe
8) A Double-Dyed Deceiver
9) The Passing of Black Eagle
10) A Retrieved Reformation
11) Cherchez la Femme
12) Friends in San Rosario
13) The Fourth in Salvador
14) The Emancipation of Billy
15) The Enchanted Kiss
16) A Departmental Case
17) The Renaissance at Charleroi
18) On Behalf of the Management
19) Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking
20) The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss
21) Two Grenades
22) The Lonesome Road
Want to Read
April 4, 2026Read so far:
Roads of Destiny --4
*The Guardian of the Accolade --
The Discounters of Money --
*The Enchanted Profile --
*Next to Reading Matter --
Art and the Bronco --
Phoebe --
*A Double Dyed Deceiver --
*The Passing of Black Eagle --
A Retrieved Reformation --3
*Cherchez la Femme --
*Friends In San Rosario --
*The Fourth in Salvador --
The Emancipation of Billy --
*The Enchanted Kiss --
A Departmental Case --
*The Renaissance At Charleroi --
On Behalf of The Management --
*Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking --
*The Halbardier of the Little Rheinschloss --
*Two Renegades --
The Lonesome Road --3
Roads of Destiny --4
*The Guardian of the Accolade --
The Discounters of Money --
*The Enchanted Profile --
*Next to Reading Matter --
Art and the Bronco --
Phoebe --
*A Double Dyed Deceiver --
*The Passing of Black Eagle --
A Retrieved Reformation --3
*Cherchez la Femme --
*Friends In San Rosario --
*The Fourth in Salvador --
The Emancipation of Billy --
*The Enchanted Kiss --
A Departmental Case --
*The Renaissance At Charleroi --
On Behalf of The Management --
*Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking --
*The Halbardier of the Little Rheinschloss --
*Two Renegades --
The Lonesome Road --3
August 7, 2017
رغم سوء الترجمة التى قام بها شخص يدعي نور الدين الزرارى ، فالمجموعة القصصية رائعة وسامح الله المترجم
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