Selected Short Stories of O. Henry

Author: O. Henry
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: O. Henry (1862-1910) was an American short story writer. He was born into a family of country doctors in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the United States. His life was full of legends. He lost his mother at the age of three, and his father was unable to support his children, so Porter had to live with others as a child, suffering discrimination and hardship. He worked as a pharmacy apprentice, a cowboy, an accountant, a land office clerk, a journalist, and a bank teller. While working as a bank teller, he fled to Honduras in Central America when a shortage of cash was discovered at the bank to avoid interrogation. Later, he was arrested and imprisoned (sentenced to five years) for returning home to visit his critically ill wife. In prison, he performed well and was appointed a pharmacist in the prison medical clinic (later released two years early), which gave him the opportunity to hear all kinds of strange and bizarre stories from prisoners, enriching his creative material. During his time as a bank teller, he had some writing experience, and after becoming a pharmacist in the prison medical clinic, he began to write seriously. In 1901, he was released early and moved to New York, where he dedicated himself to writing. O. Henry was skilled at depicting American society, especially the lives of the people in New York. In his lifetime, he wrote more than 300 short stories, most of which reflected the bitter yet humorous lives of the lower classes. These works were celebrated for their humorous life and the "tearful smile" style, earning them the title of the "encyclopedia of humorous American life." His works often have a striking artistic feature—an unexpected ending. The stories are unique and thought-provoking, with moving plots and delicate brushwork, rich and simple language that is both subtle and expressive. These characteristics make many of his works original in conception, witty in language, and often with endings that defy expectations. Additionally, because he portrayed numerous characters and was full of life, he was hailed as the "encyclopedia of humorous American life." His representative works include the short story collections The Gift of the Magi, The Four Million, and The Road to Fortune. Some of his famous stories, such as The Sacrifice of Love, The Cop and the Anthem, The Furnished Room, The Gift of the Magi, and The Last Leaf, brought him worldwide fame.