Collection of Short Stories by O. Henry

Author: (American) O. Henry (Henry, O.) wrote, translated by Yi Chen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: O. Henry (1862-1910), American short story writer. He was born into a family of a country doctor in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. 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 cashier. While working as a bank cashier, 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) upon returning home to visit his critically ill wife. In prison, he was praised for his good behavior and worked as 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 cashier, 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, dedicating himself to writing. O. Henry was skilled at depicting American society, especially the lives of New Yorkers. In his lifetime, O. Henry wrote over 300 short stories, most of which reflected the hard 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 "humorous encyclopedia of American life." His works often feature a striking artistic trait—an unexpected ending. The stories are unique and thought-provoking, with moving plots and delicate brushwork, rich yet simple and subtle language. These characteristics made his works innovative in conception, witty in language, and often with surprising endings. Additionally, because he depicted numerous characters and was full of life, he was hailed as the "humorous encyclopedia of American life." Representative works include the short story collections The Gift of the Magi, The Four Million, and The Road to Fortune. Some of his famous works, such as The Sacrifice of Love, The Cop and the Anthem, The Room with a View, The Gift of the Magi, and The Last Leaf, brought him worldwide acclaim.