Showing results by author "O Henry" in All Categories

The short story is considered to be one of the most challenging genres because of the need for compact plotlines and the ability to conjure up atmosphere and character in a few sentences and to engage the reader instantly. This collection presents 66 of the greatest examples of the genre - many of them well known, some hidden literary treasures, all of them exquisite examples of the short story at its finest.

The Gift of the Magi is a timeless holiday story that captures the true spirit of giving and love. Written by O. Henry, this heartwarming tale follows a young couple, Jim and Della, who sacrifice their most treasured possessions to buy each other the perfect Christmas gift. Little do they know, their acts of selflessness create a beautiful and ironic twist that embodies the power of love and generosity.

The Four Million was written in 1906 when roughly four million people lived in New York City. It opens with a reference to Ward McAllister's "assertion that there were only "400" people in New York City who were really worth noticing.

William Sydney Porter was born on 11th September 1862 in Greensboro, North Carolina. At age 3 his mother died from tuberculosis. From an early age it was clear Porter had a large appetite for reading as he absorbed the world around him. He was a member of several singing and dramatic groups when he met 17 year old Athol Estes, daughter of a wealthy Austin family. Despite her mother’s objection owing to Athol’s tuberculosis, they began courting and in July 1887, they eloped and soon married.

"El Teatro es la Vida" de O. Henry es una colección de cuentos que explora la naturaleza vibrante e impredecible de la existencia humana. A través de una serie de viñetas ambientadas en varios lugares, desde ciudades bulliciosas hasta pueblos tranquilos, O. Henry profundiza en las complejidades de las relaciones, aspiraciones y sueños humanos. Cada historia ofrece un vistazo a las vidas de personas comunes y corrientes que luchan contra el amor, la pérdida y la búsqueda de la felicidad.

Selección de cuentos cortos clásicos de la literatura universal pensada para todo público.

A new volume of exciting stories from 19th- and 20th-century American and British masters and mistresses of the art of story-telling, read by award-winning narrators.

A poor young couple demonstrates the meaning of love and self-sacrifice in the Christmas Classic, "The Gift of the Magi". Also included is "The Last Leaf". This tale follows a young woman artist who is stricken with pneumonia. She watches the leafy vine opposite her window with hollow eyes, and she determines to stay alive until the last leaf falls. O. Henry, always a master with the surprise ending, delivers two fine tales of his beloved New York City.

First published in The Saturday Evening Post, "The Ransom of Red Chief" is a humorous short story written in 1910 by O. Henry. A pair of con men kidnap and attempt to ransom a prominent Alabama citizen’s son. Immediately they find themselves at the mercy of a particularly spoiled and clever boy who begins driving them mad. The ironic ending remains the story’s most enduring feature.

O. Henry was a prolific American short-story writer - a masterof surprise endings - who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New YorkCity. In "The Gift of the Magi," one of his best-known works, a young coupleat Christmas time who, despite having little money, buy secret gifts for eachother. A moral lesson on the importance of love and sacrifice, "The Gift of theMagi" has been adapted to film more than a dozen times throughout the world.

Young readers enjoy this story a lot, because of the safecracking plot. Adults tend to like the growing up part: starting a shoe store, succeeding, getting the girl, and going straight.

Two friends decide to meet again after a 20-year separation - with very unexpected results.

O. Henry’s The Ransom of Red Chief is a hilarious short story about a kidnapping gone terribly wrong. When two con men kidnap a rambunctious young boy, they quickly realize they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. The boy, who calls himself "Red Chief," turns the tables on his captors with his wild imagination and mischievous antics, making their scheme more of a nightmare than a payday.

Catch the holiday spirit with this magical collection of beloved Christmas tales. Christmas favorites from L.M. Montgomery, O. Henry, Willa Cather, Hans Christian Anderson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Bret Harte and Anthony Trollope are lovingly recorded and presented here in one enchanting volume.

A Washington, D.C., socialite, traveling in the western United States, meets an old friend, and finds herself startled to learn that his current occupation is a long way from what it was when he was in D.C.

A compilation of popular short stories from American literature narrated by professional voice actor Jake Phillips.

Fifty of the world's greatest classic short stories: 1.The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant 2.The One Million Pound Banknote by Mark Twain 3.The Phantom Rickshaw by Rudyard Kipling 4.The Fly by Katherine Mansfield 5.The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe 6.My Favorite Murder by Ambrose Bierce 7.The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe 8.One Thousand Dollars by O. Henry 9.Regret by Kate Chopin 10.The Nose by Nikolai Gogol 11.The Mezzotint by M. R. James 12.The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), an American writer of outstanding short stories known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization, and surprise endings. In this story two old friends had promised to meet up exactly 20 years to the day since their last meeting in New York. One of the friends has travelled a thousand miles to be there...and is now waiting for his childhood companion. Will he turn up?

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story, written by O. Henry (a pen name for William Sydney Porter) about a young married couple and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. They can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.