O. Henry

Portrait by [[William van der Weyde|W. M. Vanderweyde]] (1909) William Sydney Porter (September 11, 1862 – June 5, 1910), better known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American writer known primarily for his short stories, though he also wrote poetry and non-fiction. His works include "The Gift of the Magi", "The Duplicity of Hargraves", and "The Ransom of Red Chief", as well as the novel ''Cabbages and Kings''. Porter's stories are known for their naturalist observations, witty narration, and surprise endings.

Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Porter worked at his uncle's pharmacy after finishing school and became a licensed pharmacist at age 19. In March 1882, he moved to Texas, where he initially lived on a ranch, and later settled in Austin, where he met his first wife, Athol Estes. While working as a drafter for the Texas General Land Office, Porter began developing characters for his short stories. He later worked for the First National Bank of Austin, while also publishing a weekly periodical, ''The Rolling Stone''.

In 1895, he was charged with embezzlement stemming from an audit of the bank. Before the trial, he fled to Honduras, where he began writing ''Cabbages and Kings'' (in which he coined the term "banana republic"). Porter surrendered to U.S. authorities when he learned his wife was dying from tuberculosis, and he cared for her until her death in July 1897. He began his five-year prison sentence in March 1898 at the Ohio Penitentiary, where he served as a night druggist. While imprisoned, Porter published 14 stories under various pseudonyms, one being O. Henry.

Released from prison early for good behavior, Porter moved to Pittsburgh to be with his daughter Margaret before relocating to New York City, where he wrote 381 short stories. He married Sarah (Sallie) Lindsey Coleman in 1907; she left him two years later. Porter died on June 5, 1910, after years of deteriorating health. Porter's legacy includes the O. Henry Award, an annual prize awarded to outstanding short stories. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 20 results of 29 for search 'Henry, O., 1862-1910', query time: 0.02s Refine Results
  1. 1

    The voice of the city / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1929
    Book
  2. 2

    The gentle grafter / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1976
    Book
  3. 3

    Roads of destiny, by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1925
    Book
  4. 4

    Sixes and sevens / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1929
    Book
  5. 5

    Heart of the West / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1929
    Book
  6. 6

    Cabbages and kings / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1916
    Book
  7. 7
  8. 8

    Waifs and strays; twelve stories by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1925
    Book
  9. 9

    The gentle grafter / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1929
    Book
  10. 10

    Whirligigs / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1929
    Book
  11. 11

    Cabbages and kings / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1929
    Book
  12. 12

    Voice of the city by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1937
    Book
  13. 13
  14. 14

    Options; by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1929
    Book
  15. 15

    The four million; by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1929
    Book
  16. 16

    The best short stories of O. Henry / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1945
    Book
  17. 17

    The complete works of O. Henry [pseud.] by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1953
    Book
  18. 18

    Cabbages and kings / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1904
    Gale Cengage Learning
    Electronic eBook
  19. 19

    Cabbages and kings / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1908
    Gale Cengage Learning
    Electronic eBook
  20. 20

    The four million / by Henry, O., 1862-1910

    Published 1906
    Gale Cengage Learning
    Electronic eBook