O. Henry's best stories make up the golden fund of American literature. This American writer, whose real name is William Sidney Porter, worked at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. He is a recognized master of the short story. His works are characterized by unexpected denouement and subtle humor. In this article we will talk about the most famous short stories, reviews from readers about them.
Creation
Most of the best stories of O. Henry were written by him at the beginning of the 20th century, although the first literary experiments date back to the 1880s. Then it was predominantly humorous journalism.
It is known that he worked in a bank, was accused of embezzlement, and was hiding from prosecutors in Honduras. When he returned to care for his sick wife, he was still sent to prison. Perhaps on a false charge. In conclusion, the writer spent three years.
In 1904, he wrote the only novel "Kings and Cabbage", which, in fact, is several stories united by a single scene. After that, collections of short stories “Four Million”, “Heart of the West”, “Noble Rogue”, “Business People”, which brought him popularity, were already created.
In all the best stories of O. Henry, a lot of amazing characters, the original plot. All this allowed him to quickly gain fame among readers.
At the end of his life, he suffered from diabetes and cirrhosis. In 1910, he died at the age of 47.
"Gifts of the Magi"
Among the 10 best stories of O. Henry always include his short story “Gifts of the Magi”, which became an exemplary composition about sincere and pure love.
The main characters are a couple of young spouses. Their names are Della and Jim. They are preparing each other a Christmas present. The girl successfully trades in shops, but still she manages to collect only the dollar and 87 centers. This is all that she can spend on a gift to her husband.
A couple of newlyweds rent a furnished room in which eloquent poverty reigns. Their only treasures are Della's luxurious and long hair and Jim's gold watch.
A girl comes across an ad by a hairdresser who takes hair. She sells her treasure and buys a platinum chain for her husband’s watches for $ 20. When preparing dinner, she only thinks about not liking him a short haircut.
Jim who came home in the evening examines his wife either with anger, or with surprise, or with horror. He didn’t stop loving his wife, but he couldn’t realize that she no longer had her chic braids. After all, at Christmas, he prepared for her a set of tortoise crests with precious stones - something that Della had long dreamed of. In response, she gives him a chain, but so far this gift has to be postponed, as Jim laid the clock to buy combs.
Reviews about the story
In the reviews, most agree that this is O. Henry's best story about love. This is a real classic of world literature.
Readers who have already become acquainted with this work notice that this is a touching and short story about the most important thing that a person can have in life. This is Love. Heroes seek to sacrifice the dearest that they have, in order to make pleasant a loved one.
This is the case when a very small work becomes very capacious and important in content.
"The leader of the Redskins"
If “Gifts of the Magi” is a classic love story, then “The Leader of the Redskins” is O. Henry's best story for children. Its main characters are adventurers Sam and Bill. They need money to start speculating with the land. They decide to make money dishonestly by kidnapping the son of one of the wealthiest residents of a small town in Alabama Ebenezer Dorsett. Fraudsters have no doubt that the father will quickly lay out for his child the $ 2,000 they need.
They steal the boy, take him to the mountains on a wagon, where they hide him in a cave. To their surprise, the captive is enthusiastic about this adventure. He declares himself the leader of the Redskins, declaring that he does not want to go home. He calls the bill an old hunter Hank, who was captured by the Indians, and Sam calls the nickname Snake Eye.
With Bill, he promises to scalp, and soon really makes such an attempt. Fraudsters find out that there are no signs of concern in the Dorsett house.
At the same time, the situation is heating up in the cave, as crooks are no longer able to withstand the tricks of the persistent youth.
Reader Impressions
This is one of the most famous and best stories of O. Henry. The list of outstanding works of the author always include him.
Thanks to this work, an American writer wins the love of readers when they are still in elementary school. It is at this age that it is recommended to get acquainted with the story.
In this small novel, so much wisdom is collected that it remains only to marvel at the talent of the author and lament that he managed to write so little. This opinion can be found in most reviews of the best works of O. Henry.
"Last page"
This story is one example of the fact that O. Henry was not only a talented satirist, but also a subtle lyricist who succumbed to an amazingly dramatic plot.
This piece tells the story of young artists Jonesy and Sue. They rent a small apartment in the attic in New York. In late autumn, Jonsey is seriously ill with pneumonia. The doctor gives disappointing predictions, warning that there is little chance of survival. In addition, the girl herself is so dejected that she loses all interest in life.
She looks out the windows, counting how many leaves are left on the ivy standing in the yard. For herself, Jonesy decided that when the last leaf fell, she would die.
Sue talks about the sad thoughts of a friend to their neighbor, an elderly artist Bergman. All his life he was going to create a masterpiece, but he still did not succeed.
The next morning it turns out that only one leaf remained on the ivy. Johnsy watches closely as he resists gusts of wind. By evening, a strong wind rises, the girl doubts that in the morning the leaf will still remain on the tree. It turns out that she was wrong. To her surprise, the sheet continues to fight bad weather day after day. This makes a strong impression on her. She is ashamed of her own cowardice, realizing that she must live. The doctor who visited her notes that the girl is recovering, and soon her life is already in danger.
That's just Bergman caught pneumonia. He caught a cold on the night when ivy lost the last leaf. The artist drew a new one, and then stuck it to a branch, despite the wind and rain. He is dying, nevertheless creating a masterpiece ...
Amazing brevity
After reading this story, which is included in the list of the best works of O. Henry, readers are amazed how the author manages to create a captivating and mysterious world in just a few pages.
This short story confirms that he is a real genius who can be analyzed long and hard, but still never cease to admire his best texts.
"Furnished room"
Among the best stories of O. Henry there is another work that is not as popular as the previous ones. The protagonist of the novel “Furnished Room” of 1906 is a young man who is looking for an overnight stay in a poor area of the city. Closer to midnight, he manages to settle.
Describing the advantages of a furnished room, her mistress noted that most of the neighbors are actors, since there are many theaters around. The main character is interested in a girl named Eloise Weschner, but the hostess knows nothing about her, admitting that tenants change often, the names of all are simply impossible to remember.
It turns out that the young man has been looking for Eloise for 5 months. He walks around theater agents and music halls, but nowhere can he find the girl who won his heart. She is of medium height with golden hair and a mole on her left temple.
For this night he stays in this furnished room. Toward night, the protagonist smells Reseda, realizing that Eloise was here recently. He begs the hostess to tell about recent guests. But it turns out that not one of the tenants has anything to do with Eloise. Returning, he realizes that the smell of the reseda has evaporated.
In the evening, the hostess talks about a new tenant with her friend. At the same time, he remembers who lived before him. It turns out that the room was rented by a girl who committed suicide a week ago, having been poisoned by carbon monoxide. She was pretty, only she was spoiled by a mole on her left temple.
The tragedy of one room
That is how many readers describe the impressions that they have after reading this story.
This is a tragic and simple story. Reading it for the first time, you won’t even think that the author has prepared such a sad ending for the main character. The story is kept in suspense, until the very last moment the hope for a successful ending remains, but it turns out that everything was in vain. Ahead is a dramatic finale, as is often the case in life itself.