O Henry Stories In English Read Online, Short Stories By O. Henry
O Henry Stories In English
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O Henry Short Biography
O. Henry, the pen name of William Sydney Porter, was an American short story writer known for his wit, wordplay, and surprise endings. He was born on September 11, 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina. After losing his mother at a young age, he was raised by his grandmother and aunt. Porter worked in various jobs, including as a pharmacist, draftsman, and bank teller. His experiences in these fields would later influence his writing.
In 1896, he was accused of embezzlement while working at a bank in Austin, Texas. Fleeing to Honduras, he eventually returned to the U.S. after learning of his wife’s illness and was sentenced to five years in prison. During his time in jail, he began writing short stories under the pseudonym O. Henry. After his release, he moved to New York City, where he gained fame for his engaging tales of ordinary people.
O. Henry wrote over 600 stories, often featuring ironic twists and themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption. Some of his most famous works include The Gift of the Magi, The Ransom of Red Chief, and The Last Leaf. His collection The Four Million (1906) captured the lives of New Yorkers with humor and poignancy.
Despite his literary success, O. Henry struggled with alcoholism, which led to his early death on June 5, 1910, at age 47. His legacy endures as one of America’s greatest short story writers, celebrated for his masterful storytelling and unexpected endings.