The Complete Works of O. Henry - Four Volumes

Author: O. Henry
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. He was hailed by critics as the "Poet Laureate of Manhattan" and the "Father of Modern American Short Story." Born into a physician family in Greensboro, North Carolina, his life was full of. He worked as a pharmacy apprentice, cowboy, accountant, land office clerk, journalist, and bank teller. While working as a bank teller, he fled to Honduras in Central America to avoid interrogation after a shortage of cash in the bank. Later, he was arrested for visiting his critically ill wife and served time in prison, working as a pharmacist in the prison medical ward. He had writing experience while working at the bank and began serious writing after becoming a pharmacist. In 1901, he was released early and moved to New York, dedicating himself to writing. O. Henry excelled at depicting life in the United States, especially in New York. His works were known for their original plots, witty language, and unexpected endings. He was also celebrated as the "Humorous Encyclopedia of American Life" due to his portrayal of a wide range of characters and his rich depiction of everyday life. His representative works include the short story collections The Gift of the Magi, The Four Million, and The Way of Life. Some of his famous stories, such as The Sacrifice of Love, The Cop and the Anthem, The Furnished Room, and The Last Leaf, earned him international acclaim. O. Henry's life was rugged, difficult, and. He lost his mother at the age of three and entered society at 15, working as a shepherd, pharmacist, clerk, draftsman, and cashier. In 1889, he eloped with Rose O'Leary against his parents' wishes and, encouraged by his young wife, began his writing career, founding the humor magazine The Rolling Stone. Later, he was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement. After his release, he moved to New York and focused solely on 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, who lived among the lower classes for a long time, deeply felt these contradictions through the diverse social phenomena he encountered. His life, rich experiences, unique perspective, and keen observations led him to vividly depict social realities 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 various angles, expressing the anger and voices of the working class against exploitation and oppression.
O. Henry wrote over 270 short stories and one novel, along with 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 using a melancholic tone to describe "the lullaby boy" and criticize irrational social phenomena. However, due to its limited quantity and modest achievements, his poetry 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 ideas.
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 accurate details, as well as his 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 compared him to "America's Maupassant," and this comparison holds some truth. Humor is one of America's literary traditions. Since Washington Irving, many writers have excelled at telling amusing and thought-provoking stories. Irving's humor was a gentle satire embedded in good-natured 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 the witty and humorous portrayal of character. O. Henry inherited this tradition, influenced by his contemporaries, and, due to his life's hardships, developed a unique humor filled with bittersweet laughter. His humor, which combined exaggeration, satire, wit, and playfulness, also contained melancholy and sorrow. Reading The Gift of the Magi evokes a bitter smile, while The Cop and the Anthem leaves readers feeling desolate and heartbroken. This "smile with tears" deepened the social significance of his works and gave 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 literature. He skillfully designed dramatic plots, laid, built suspense, and outlined conflicts, only to deliver an unexpected ending that left readers feeling enlightened and surprised, yet both surprising and reasonable. 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 always had 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. (Gu Junfeng)
Not far from Washington State, in North Carolina, there is a small town called Greensboro. 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 as O. Henry, becoming a beloved great writer in America and around the world, whose influence and charm would last for a century.
O. Henry's life was rugged, difficult, and. He lost his mother at the age of three and entered society at 15, working as a shepherd, pharmacist, clerk, draftsman, and cashier. In 1889, he eloped with Rose O'Leary against his parents' wishes and, encouraged by his young wife, began his writing career, founding the humor magazine The Rolling Stone. Later, he was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement. After his release, he moved to New York and focused solely on 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, who lived among the lower classes for a long time, deeply felt these contradictions through the diverse social phenomena he encountered. His life, rich experiences, unique perspective, and keen observations led him to vividly depict social realities 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 various angles, expressing the anger and voices of the working class against exploitation and oppression.
O. Henry wrote over 270 short stories and one novel, along with 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 using a melancholic tone to describe "the lullaby boy" and criticize irrational social phenomena. However, due to its limited quantity and modest achievements, his poetry 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 ideas.
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 accurate details, as well as his 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 compared him to "America's Maupassant," and this comparison holds some truth. Humor is one of America's literary traditions. Since Washington Irving, many writers have excelled at telling amusing and thought-provoking stories. Irving's humor was a gentle satire embedded in good-natured 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 the witty and humorous portrayal of character. O. Henry inherited this tradition, influenced by his contemporaries, and, due to his life's hardships, developed a unique humor filled with bittersweet laughter. His humor, which combined exaggeration, satire, wit, and playfulness, also contained melancholy and sorrow. Reading The Gift of the Magi evokes a bitter smile, while The Cop and the Anthem leaves readers feeling desolate and heartbroken. This "smile with tears" deepened the social significance of his works and gave 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 literature. He skillfully designed dramatic plots, laid, built suspense, and outlined conflicts, only to deliver an unexpected ending that left readers feeling enlightened and surprised, yet both surprising and reasonable. 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 always had 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.