Selected Stories

• ISBN13: 9789372273922
• Binding: Paperback
• Subject: English Literature
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint: Peacock Books
• Publication Date: July 10, 2026
• Pages: 608
• Original Price: INR 495.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 430 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): Classics, Literary, and Short Stories (single author)

“We can't buy one minute of time with cash; if we could, rich people would live longer.”

Selected Stories by O. Henry is a captivating collection that showcases the wit, charm and masterful storytelling of one of America's most beloved short story writers. Known for his unexpected twists and sharp insights into human nature, O. Henry weaves tales that blend humour with poignancy, exploring the complexities of life, love and fate. In these stories, readers will encounter a variety of memorable characters—from the poor and downtrodden to the ambitious and hopeful—each of whom grapples with their challenges in a world full of irony and surprise. O. Henry's trademark twist endings offer profound reflections on the contradictions of life, leaving readers with a sense of both satisfaction and thoughtfulness. This collection is an ideal introduction to O. Henry's world, where every story is a delightful exploration of the human experience, rich in humour, heart and the unexpected.

Endorsements

“In multiple ways, O. Henry was phenomenal…Besides clever plotting that Agatha Christie would envy, his work can be touching, humorous, tragic, frightening or all of them by turns.”

—The Washington Post

“The book… provides fresh evidence that, despite occasional skepticism from critics and scholars, O. Henry has secured a place in the country's literary pantheon.”

—The Wall Street Journal

O. Henry, the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862–1910), was an American short story writer renowned for his wit, humour and clever plot twists. Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, he worked in various jobs, including as a bank clerk, which led to his imprisonment for embezzlement. During his time in prison, Porter began writing and adopted the pseudonym “O. Henry”. His stories often depicted the lives of ordinary people, blending irony and compassion to highlight the unpredictable nature of life. Best known for his surprise endings, O. Henry’s works, such as The Gift of the Magi and The Ransom of Red Chief, remain beloved for their insight into human nature and their ability to evoke both laughter and reflection. Despite a brief life, O. Henry’s legacy as a master of the short story form endures.

Noteworthy Works by O. Henry:
• Memoirs of a Yellow Dog (1903)
• The Gift of the Magi (1906)
• After Twenty Years (1906)
• The Last Leaf (1907)
• The Ransom of Red Chief (1907)

The Four Million. . . . . . . . . .1

The Coming-Out of Maggie. . . . . . . . .3

A Service of Love. . . . . . . . . . . .9

Between Rounds. . . . . . . . . . . .15

An Unfinished Story. . . . . . . . .20

After Twenty Years. . . . . . . . . .26

By Courier. . . . . . . . . . .29

The Trimmed Lamp. . . . . . . . . . . .33

The Pendulum. . . . . . . .35

The Buyer from Cactus City. . . . . . . .39

Brickdust Row. . . . . . . .45

The Foreign Policy of Company 99. . . . . . . .53

The Count and the Wedding Guest. . . . . . . .59

The Country of Elusion. . . . . . . . . . . .65

The Last Leaf. . . . . . . . .72

Heart of the West. . . . . . . . 79

The Ransom of Mack. . . . . . . .81

The Higher Abdication. . . . . . . . . . . .86

A Call Loan. . . . . . . . .105

The Princess and the Puma. . . . . . . .110vi SELECTED STORIES

The Indian Summer of Dry Valley Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . .116

The Reformation of Calliope. . . . . . . . . . . . .124

The Voice of the City. . . . . . . . . .133

The Complete Life of John Hopkins. . . . . . . . . . . .135

Dougherty’s Eye-Opener. . . . . . . . . .140

While the Auto Waits. . . . . . . . . . . . .145

The Defeat of the City. . . . . . . . . . . .150

The Plutonian Fire. . . . . . . . .156

Squaring the Circle. . . . . . . . .162

The Fool-Killer. . . . . . . . . . . .166

Transients in Arcadia. . . . . . . . . . . . .173

Extradited from Bohemia. . . . . . . . .178

From Each According to His Ability. . . . . . . . . . . .184

The Memento. . . . . . . . . . . . .191

The Gentle Grafter. . . . . . . . . . . .201

Jeff Peters as a Personal Magnet. . . . . . . . . .203

Modern Rural Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . .209

The Man Higher Up. . . . . . . .215

Hostages to Momus. . . . . . . .227

Roads of Destiny. . . . . . . .241

The Guardian of the Accolade. . . . . . . . . . .243

Phoebe. . . . . . . .251

A Double-Dyed Deceiver. . . . . . . . .267

A Retrieved Reformation. . . . . . . . . .277

Friends in San Rosario. . . . . . . . . . . .284

The Emancipation of Billy. . . . . . . . .297CONTENTS vii

A Departmental Case. . . . . . . . . . . . .307

The Renaissance at Charleroi. . . . . . . . . . . .319

Two Renegades. . . . . . . . . . . .331

Options. . . . . . . . . .343

“The Rose of Dixie”. . . . . . . .345

Schools and Schools. . . . . . . .356

Thimble, Thimble. . . . . . . . . .366

The Moment of Victory. . . . . . . . . . .377

No Story. . . . . . . . . . . .388

Strictly Business. . . . . . . .397

The Gold that Glittered. . . . . . . . . . .399

The Day Resurgent. . . . . . . . .406

The Thing’s the Play. . . . . . . .412

A Municipal Report. . . . . . . .419

Proof of the Pudding. . . . . . . . . . . . .434

The Venturers. . . . . . . . . . . . .443

Whirligigs. . . . . . . .455

The Theory and the Hound. . . . . . . .457

The Ransom of Red Chief. . . . . . . . .466

The Whirligig of Life. . . . . . . . . . . . .476

The Roads We Take. . . . . . . .482

A Blackjack Bargainer. . . . . . . . . . . .486

One Dollar’s Worth. . . . . . . . .500

Madame Bo-Peep, of the Ranches. . . . . . . .507

Sixes and Sevens. . . . . . . .525

Witches’ Loaves. . . . . . . . . . . .527viii SELECTED STORIES

The Duplicity of Hargraves. . . . . . . .530

October and June. . . . . . . . . .543

The Church with an Overshot-Wheel. . . . . . . . . . .545

Rolling Stones. . . . . . . . . .557

The Atavism of John Tom Little Bear. . . . . . . . . . .559

The Marquis and Miss Sally. . . . . . . . . . . . .571

Waifs and Strays. . . . . . . .583

Out of Nazareth. . . . . . . . . . . .585

Hearts and Hands. . . . . . . . . .598