O Henry

Roads of Destiny (1909) is a collection of short stories by American writer O. Henry. Inspired by his experiences as a fugitive and in prison, these stories address themes of crime, poverty, and fate. "A Retrieved Reformation," perhaps the most notable of the collection's twenty-two stories, is semi-autobiographical in that it explores the life of a criminal and fugitive who maintains a moral identity while struggling to adjust to life outside of...

From America's favorite storyteller: A rich selection of twenty-five tales by the author of "The Gift of the Magi." Writing under the pseudonym O. Henry, William Sydney Porter was an incredibly prolific and popular master of the short story in the early twentieth century. His stories are known for being witty, playful, full of plot twists, and marked by surprise endings. The author had a special fondness for New York City and a deep interest and appreciation...

Whirligigs (1910) is a collection of short stories by American writer O. Henry. Inspired by his experiences as a fugitive and in prison, these stories address themes of poverty and provincial life with humor and abundant empathy. "The Ransom of Red Chief," the most notable of the collection's twenty-four stories, is considered one of Henry's finest works and has been adapted numerous times for television and film. "The Ransom of Red Chief" follows...

Cabbages and Kings (1904) is a novel by American writer O. Henry. Inspired by his experiences as a fugitive in Honduras, the interconnected stories that make up Cabbages and Kings-the title refers to a line from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass-address themes of revolution, imperialism, exploitation, and greed. The novel is significant not only for launching O. Henry's career as a successful professional writer, but for coining the term "banana...

Originally published in 1917, Waifs and Strays is a premier selection of short stories released seven years after the author's untimely, death at age 47. The book contains 12 memorable tales including "Confessions of a Humorist," "The Detective Detector," and "The Sparrows in Madison Square." In Waifs and Strays, O. Henry brings humor to unconventional stories with unforgettable characters. With "The Detective Detector" he spoof's the world's most...

A story of sacrificial love, The Gift of the Magi is a classic for the Christmas season and beyond. A husband and wife cannot afford to give each other presents unless they give up their own greatest treasures. With touching twists, O. Henry unfolds a story of profound implications.

Selected Stories of O. Henry, by O. Henry, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: • New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars • Biographies of the authors • Chronologies...

Including his most famous works, such as “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Furnished Room,” this collection of forty-one O. Henry short stories demonstrates his extraordinary technical genius. 
“There are stories in everything. I’ve got some of my best yarns from park benches, lampposts, and newspaper stands.”—O. Henry
Readers the world over recognize O. Henry as the best short...

A collection of short stories that fully describe the place and people they're about, along with endlessly inventive plot twists.

This unique collection of O. Henry's complete poetry. Table of Contents: A Contribution Chanson De Bohême Drop a Tear in This Slot Hard to Forget Nothing to Say Tamales The Lullaby Boy The Murderer The Old Farm The Pewee Two Portraits Vanity Sleeping Fancies Trusting Thoughts Thinking The Crucible Biography of O. Henry.