Author of more than 600 short stories, O Henry has been called America's answer to Maupassant. Like Maupassant, he is a master of surprise endings, but his stories are warmer and more optimistic. Humorous, dramatic, occasionally tragic, they catch the whole flavour of America in the last years of the 19th and the first years of the 20th centuries. O Henry's picturesque career, including a spell in prison, gave him a special feeling for the seamy side of life and provided him with a glorious array of characters - burglars, conmen, struggling artists, bumptious journalists, star-crossed lovers, gamblers, drunks and down-and-outs. Set in New York or small town America, his stories capture the pathos and heroism of ordinary lives and satirise the rich and famous. A hundred years after his death, this centenary selection pays homage to one of America's best-loved and most characteristic writers.
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O Henry was the pen name of American writer William Sydney Porter (1862 - 1910). His short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and ingenious plot twists. The O Henry Award remains as a prestigious annual prize given to outstanding short stories.
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First Sentence
A guard came to the prison shoe shop, where Jimmy Valentine was assiduously stitching uppers, and escorted him to the front office. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
A guard came to the prison shoe shop, where Jimmy Valentine was assiduously stitching uppers, and escorted him to the front office. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
A collection of timeless stories with unforgettable characters. They depict people who could live in any era with the weaknesses and strengths of "everyman." And of course, always with the "O'Henry twist." The illustrations are so real you think they are actual people.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow, Who Knew???!!!
9 Jun 2002
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Honestly, I wasn't really too enthused when I found out that my 7th grade reading comprehension class would be reading this book. My thoughts? O'Henry. Classics. Ugh.
I ended up loving each and every story included in this book. You have to get into these stories, but the surprising endings are really something to look forward to. Some stories move you, some put a smile on your face, and some just make you go "ooooooooooooooooooooh" if you get it. This book is definitely worth your time, no matter how little of it you have:)!
I ended up loving each and every story included in this book. You have to get into these stories, but the surprising endings are really something to look forward to. Some stories move you, some put a smile on your face, and some just make you go "ooooooooooooooooooooh" if you get it. This book is definitely worth your time, no matter how little of it you have:)!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice little stories.
13 Nov 2003
By MAB
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
"The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories" has a nice variety of stories. I have the 1997 edition, which includes the stories "The Gift of the Magi," "The Last Leaf," "Springtime a la Carte," "The Purple Dress," "One Thousand Dollars," "Transients in Arcadia," "A Chaparral Prince," "The Clarion Call," "The Hiding of Black Bill," and "A Retrieved Reformation." "The Gift of the Magi" is the best of them all, with "The Last Leaf," "A Chaparral Prince," and "A Retrieved Reformation" all coming in second place. O. Henry is an excellent short story writer - it's amazing how we can fully engulf ourselves within these stories, which are no more than ten pages long! I recommend.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
All the original style of O. Henry with lovely illustrations
18 Oct 2002
By K. Corn
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Although the original feel of O. Henry stories is maintained in this book (the dialogue, the solid values and homespun wisdom), the illustratons in this book really make it a stand-out. They are full of warmth, rich colors and just a delight in and of themselves, perfectly complimenting the text. There are no shortage of O. Henry collections out there, but this has to be one of the best ,especially for teen to young adult readers.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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