Rolling Stones

by O. Henry

1923. William Sydney Porter (O. Henry) was the most popular short story writer of his time. His stories typically revolved around two of his favorite themes, the situation of the impostor and fate as the one unavoidable reality of life. Another device he used was the surprise ending, usually coming about through coincidence. He was the founder of the humorous weekly The Rolling Stone. When the weekly failed, he joined the Houston Post as a reporter and columnist. He was convicted of embezzling money, although there's much debate over his actual guilt, and while in prison he started to write short stories. His first work, Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking appeared in McClure's Magazine. After emerging from prison Porter changed his name to O. Henry. He then moved to New York and wrote a story a week for the New York World, also publishing in other magazines. This volume of O'Henry's work gets its title from his early newspaper venture of the same name. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Classics, Humor, Collections, Ebooks, Literature

292 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1899

About the author

Such volumes as Cabbages and Kings (1904) and The Four Million (1906) collect short stories, noted for their often surprising endings, of American writer William Sydney Porter, who used the pen name O. Henry.

His biography shows where he found inspiration for his characters. His era produced their voices and his language.

Mother of three-year-old Porter died from tuberculosis. He left school at fifteen years of age and worked for five years in drugstore of his uncle and then for two years at a Texas sheep ranch.

In 1884, he went to Austin, where he worked in a real estate office and a church choir and spent four years as a draftsman in the general land office. His wife and firstborn died, but daughter Margaret survived him.

He failed to establish a small humorous weekly and afterward worked in poorly-run bank. When its accounts balanced not, people blamed and fired him.

In Houston, he worked for a few years until, ordered to stand trial for embezzlement, he fled to New Orleans and thence Honduras.

Two years later, he returned on account of illness of his wife. Apprehended, Porter served a few months more than three years in a penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. During his incarceration, he composed ten short stories, including A Blackjack Bargainer , The Enchanted Kiss , and The Duplicity of Hargraves .

In 1899, McClure's published Whistling Dick's Christmas Story and Georgia's Ruling .

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he sent manuscripts to New York editors. In the spring of 1902, Ainslee's Magazine offered him a regular income if he moved to New York.

In less than eight years, he became a bestselling author of collections of short stories. Cabbages and Kings came first in 1904 The Four Million, and The Trimmed Lamp and Heart of the West followed in 1907, and The Voice of the City in 1908, Roads of Destiny and Options in 1909, Strictly Business and Whirligigs in 1910 followed.

Posthumously published collections include The Gentle Grafter about the swindler, Jeff Peters; Rolling Stones , Waifs and Strays , and in 1936, unsigned stories, followed.

People rewarded other persons financially more. A Retrieved Reformation about the safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine got $250; six years later, $500 for dramatic rights, which gave over $100,000 royalties for playwright Paul Armstrong. Many stories have been made into films.

Reviews

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 2 out of 5]

ENGLISH: 23 short stories by O.Henry, of which I have read 22. This is the first time I've read them. I liked this collection least between all books by O.Henry. I have seemed to detect in his last stories a certain worry about death, perhaps an indication of his imminent premature death.

The only story I liked best was The Marquis and Miss Sally. One of the stories (A dinner at ---) is a humorous meta-story around a previous story, The badge of policeman O'Roon, which appears in The Trimmed Lamp. I didn't find it funny.

ESPAÑOL: 23 relatos cortos de O.Henry, de los que he leído 22. Esta es la primera vez que los he leído. Esta colección es la que menos me ha gustado de todos los libros de O.Henry. Me ha parecido detectar en sus últimos relatos cierta preocupación por la muerte, quizá como indicio de su inminente muerte prematura.

El único relato que me gustó más es El Marqués y la señorita Sally. Uno de los cuentos (Una cena en ---) es una meta-historia humorística alrededor de un cuento anterior, La placa del policía O'Roon, que aparece en The Trimmed Lamp. No me pareció graciosa.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last of the 12 or so books in the Authorized Edition of O. Henry books from 1919. It includes some of O. Henry's last stories written, including some without endings. It also includes some of his letters to people, and some poetry! Highly recommended reading for O. Henry fans!

[Johnnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the previous books but still plenty of humor laced with sardonic irony. Many of them are earlier stories and so unpolished and not as descriptive in character. Some are later stories that were unfinished or incomplete. Still, Henry's worst are more often better than most modern writers best. Still enjoyable as a short read before bed or a quick story at breakfast.

[Angela Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had enjoyed the little I had read of O. Henry's work before selecting this, but wasn't sure initially if this would be as good. I persisted though, and wasn't disappointed in the end. Quite a broad range of material from over the course of his career. Interesting to see some letters and poems in addition to the short stories.

[Kezia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly not his finest collection but great for completists. The last quarter or so is unfinished works (O, the potential!) and letters. I skipped the poems, I have no stomach for poetry.

[Tinquerbelle]

Henry, O.
The Complete Works of O. Henry

In compilation only.

1) The Dream
2) A Ruler of Men
3) The Atavism of John Tom Little Bear
4) Helping the Other Fellow
5) The Marionettes
6) The Marquis and Miss Sally
7) A Fog in Santone
8) The Friendly Call
9) A Dinner at _____
10) Sound and Fury
11) Tictocq
12) Tracked to Doom
13) A Snapshot at the President
14) An Unfinished Christmas Story
15) The Unprofitable Servant
16) Aristocracy Versus Hash
17) The Prisoner of Zembla
18) A Strange Story
19) Fickle Fortune or How Gladys Hustled
20) An Apology
21) Lord Oakhurst's Curse
22) Bexar Scrip No. 2692
23) Queries and Answers