About
O. Henry, born William Sydney Porter, was an American short story writer. Before turning to writing, he worked as a pharmacist, bank teller, and journalist. Indicted for embezzlement, he fled to Honduras, where he coined the term 'banana republic.' After imprisonment, he settled in New York and published over 380 short stories, often with surprise endings. His collection The Four Million includes 'The Gift of the Magi,' one of his most famous tales.
* 1862-09-11 — † 1910-06-05
Major works
- Cabbages and Kings (1904)short story collection
- The Four Million (1906)short story collection
- The Gift of the Magi (1905)short story
- The Ransom of Red Chief (1907)short story
- The Last Leaf (1907)short story
Key milestones
- 1896Indicted for embezzlement, he fled to Honduras.
- 1898Sentenced to the Ohio Penitentiary, where he began writing under the pseudonym O. Henry.
- 1902Settled in New York and published a story a week in the Sunday World.
Themes
Surprise endingsUrban lifeIrony of fateSacrifice and generositySocial classes
Sources: lccn.loc.gov · britannica.com
