Selected Short Stories of O. Henry

Author: (American) Henry James / Zhang Jinghao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: O. Henry (O. Henry, 1862-1910), originally named William Sydney Porter, was one of the most famous short story writers in the United States and was hailed by critics as the "Poet Laureate of Manhattan" and the "Father of Modern American Short Stories." O. Henry's life was rugged, difficult, and unfortunate. He lost his mother at the age of three and entered society at 15, working as a shepherd, pharmacist, clerk, draftsman, cashier, and in various other professions. In 1889, he eloped with Rose O'Leary against his parents' wishes and, encouraged by his young wife, began his writing career, founding The Rolling Stone magazine and publishing humorous pieces. Later, he was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement. After his release, he moved to New York and devoted himself entirely to writing, contributing a short story to The World every week. However, due to the misfortune of his second marriage and excessive drinking, he died in New York on June 5, 1910.
In the United States from the 1880s to the early 20th century, as capitalism gradually moved toward monopoly, various social contradictions became increasingly apparent. O. Henry lived among the lower classes for a long time, and the diverse social phenomena made him deeply empathetic to these contradictions. His winding life, rich experiences, unique perspective, and keen observations led him to unconsciously depict various social phenomena in his works, such as the poverty and hardship of the working class, the hypocritical upper-class deceivers, the predatory financial oligarchs, the reckless sale of official positions, the lives of thieves, robbers, and hobos, as well as unemployment and crime. He showed deep sympathy for the poor and criticized and exposed the bourgeoisie from different angles, articulating the anger and voices of the working class against exploitation and oppression.
O. Henry wrote more than 270 short stories and one novel, as well as a small number of poems. His poetry reflected his attitude toward nature and the social contradictions of life. He wrote about birds, ancient villages, and praised the homeless, while employing a melancholic tone to describe "the lullaby boy" and criticize unreasonable social phenomena. However, due to their limited number and modest achievements, his poems had little impact. In contrast, many of his letters were excellent essays. He discussed life and writing with editors, expressing his life philosophy and creative thoughts.
O. Henry's representative works include The Gift of the Magi, The Cop and the Anthem, and The Last Leaf. His other famous novels include The Prince and the Pauper, The Call of the Wild, The Furnished Room, and The Two Faces of January. His realistic and precise details, vivid and concise language, brought a series of lifelike artistic images to readers, establishing his important place in the history of world short fiction. Some have compared him to "America's Maupassant," and this comparison is justified. Humor is one of America's literary traditions. Since Washington Irving, many writers have excelled at crafting stories that are both amusing and profound. Irving's humor was subtle satire hidden in kindly ridicule; Mark Twain's humor was revealed through colloquial language, humorous and witty descriptions, and highly exaggerated imagery, exposing the truths of life; and Owen Shea's humor focused on character-driven wit. O. Henry inherited this tradition, influenced by his contemporaries, and, due to his turbulent life, developed a unique humor—filled with bittersweet laughter, blending exaggeration, satire, wit, and humor with melancholy and sorrow. Reading The Gift of the Magi brings a bitter smile, while The Cop and the Anthem evokes a sense of desolation and sorrow. This "smile through tears" deepens the social significance of his works and gives them enduring artistic charm.
The way O. Henry handled the endings of his novels was his most creative contribution and earned him fame in both American and world literary history. He skillfully crafted dramatic plots, laid foreshadowing, built suspense, and outlined conflicts, only to deliver an unexpected twist at the end. This left readers feeling enlightened, as if a light had shone through a dark tunnel, both surprising and reasonable, leaving them in awe. However, due to his fast and prolific writing, this technique was overused, leading to a sense of repetition and formulaic flaws.
O. Henry's works have long enjoyed a wide readership in China. The newly published Complete Works of O. Henry includes a fresh translation of all his works, including poetry. It aims to provide readers with a comprehensive and profound understanding of O. Henry's life, thoughts, and works, as well as the American society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. (Guo Junfeng)
A small town named Greensboro, not far from Washington State, is located in North Carolina. On September 11, 1862, a frustrated doctor and his beautiful, frail wife gave birth to a child with big eyes but not strong. No one could have imagined that by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this child would rise to fame under the pen name "O. Henry," becoming a beloved great writer in America and around the world, whose influence and charm would endure for a century.
O. Henry's life was rugged, difficult, and unfortunate. He lost his mother at the age of three and entered society at 15, working as a shepherd, pharmacist, clerk, draftsman, cashier, and in various other professions. In 1889, he eloped with Rose O'Leary against her parents' wishes and, encouraged by his young wife, began his writing career, founding The Rolling Stone magazine and publishing humorous pieces. Later, he was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement. After his release, he moved to New York and devoted himself entirely to writing, contributing a short story to The World every week. However, due to the misfortune of his second marriage and excessive drinking, he died in New York on June 5, 1910.
In the United States from the 1880s to the early 20th century, as capitalism gradually moved toward monopoly, various social contradictions became increasingly apparent. O. Henry lived among the lower classes for a long time, and the diverse social phenomena made him deeply empathetic to these contradictions. His winding life, rich experiences, unique perspective, and keen observations led him to unconsciously depict various social phenomena in his works, such as the poverty and hardship of the working class, the hypocritical upper-class deceivers, the predatory financial oligarchs, the reckless sale of official positions, the lives of thieves, robbers, and hobos, as well as unemployment and crime. He showed deep sympathy for the poor and criticized and exposed the bourgeoisie from different angles, articulating the anger and voices of the working class against exploitation and oppression.
O. Henry wrote more than 270 short stories and one novel, as well as a small number of poems. His poetry reflected his attitude toward nature and the social contradictions of life. He wrote about birds, ancient villages, and praised the homeless, while employing a melancholic tone to describe "the lullaby boy" and criticize unreasonable social phenomena. However, due to their limited number and modest achievements, his poems had little impact. In contrast, many of his letters were excellent essays. He discussed life and writing with editors, expressing his life philosophy and creative thoughts.
O. Henry's representative works include The Gift of the Magi, The Cop and the Anthem, and The Last Leaf. His other famous novels include The Prince and the Pauper, The Call of the Wild, The Furnished Room, and The Two Faces of January. His realistic and precise details, vivid and concise language, brought a series of lifelike artistic images to readers, establishing his important place in the history of world short fiction. Some have compared him to "America's Maupassant," and this comparison is justified. Humor is one of America's literary traditions. Since Washington Irving, many writers have excelled at crafting stories that are both amusing and profound. Irving's humor was subtle satire hidden in kindly ridicule; Mark Twain's humor was revealed through colloquial language, humorous and witty descriptions, and highly exaggerated imagery, exposing the truths of life; and Owen Shea's humor focused on character-driven wit. O. Henry inherited this tradition, influenced by his contemporaries, and, due to his turbulent life, developed a unique humor—filled with bittersweet laughter, blending exaggeration, satire, wit, and humor with melancholy and sorrow. Reading The Gift of the Magi brings a bitter smile, while The Cop and the Anthem evokes a sense of desolation and sorrow. This "smile through tears" deepens the social significance of his works and gives them enduring artistic charm.
The way O. Henry handled the endings of his novels was his most creative contribution and earned him fame in both American and world literary history. He skillfully crafted dramatic plots, laid foreshadowing, built suspense, and outlined conflicts, only to deliver an unexpected twist at the end. This left readers feeling enlightened, as if a light had shone through a dark tunnel, both surprising and reasonable, leaving them in awe. However, due to his fast and prolific writing, this technique was overused, leading to a sense of repetition and formulaic flaws.
O. Henry's works have long enjoyed a wide readership in China. The newly published Complete Works of O. Henry includes a fresh translation of all his works, including poetry. It aims to provide readers with a comprehensive and profound understanding of O. Henry's life, thoughts, and works, as well as the American society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.