The World of O.Henry

Written by O. Henry

Narrated by Frank Muller

If you think of classic literature as dry and dusty reading that you have to force yourself to get through, then prepare to change your mind. Not only are these stories witty and entertaining, they are laugh-out-loud funny to boot! Does the 300-year-old ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville really exist? And if he does, will the rambunctious Otis children scare him out of his wits? What deadly crime is foretold in Lord Arthur Savile's palm, and who will be the victim? The answers lie in these hilarious tales. Each of O.Henry's stories are original, intelligent and wonderfully written. His fiendishly clever prose, and deftly ironic humor begs to be read aloud, and is heightened by the incomparable Frank Muller's dazzling narration. This collection includes: The Gift of the Magi, The Reformation of Calliope, One Thousand Dollars, The Pimienta Pancakes, The Badge of Policeman O'Roon, The Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen, Caught, The Whirligig of Life, Makes the Whole World Kin, The Cop and the Anthem, Memoirs of a Yellow Dog, The Last Leaf, A Newspaper Story, The Skylight Room, A Retrieved Reformation, The Rubaiyat of a Scotch Highball, The Passing of Black Eagle, The Green Door, Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking, The Furnished Room, Springtime A la Carte, and A Madison Square Arabian Night.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 10, 2008
• ISBN: 9781449801304

O. Henry

O. Henry (1862–1910) was the pseudonym of American author William Sidney Porter. Arrested for embezzlement in 1895, he escaped the police and fled to Honduras, where he wrote Cabbages and Kings (1904). On his return to the United States, he was caught, and served three years before being released. He became one of the most popular short story authors in history, known for his wit, surprise endings, and relatable, everyman characters.

Reviews for The World of O.Henry

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This collection of stories by O. Henry starts with “The Gift of the Magi”, the one almost everyone has heard of, even if they couldn't say who wrote it. There is at least one more Christmas story in the collection, as well as a Thanksgiving story. I liked some stories better than others, but there really isn't a bad one in the bunch. O. Henry knew how to tell a story, and most of these end with that ironic twist that Henry does so well. I listened to an audio version read by Frank Muller, whose vocal characterizations matched the tone of each story perfectly. Warmly recommended.