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    Roads of Destiny
    Roads of Destiny
    Roads of Destiny
    Ebook342 pages5 hours

    Roads of Destiny

    By O. Henry

    3.5/5

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    A collection of 22 short stories:
    Roads of Destiny, The Guardian of the Accolade, The Discounters of Money, The Enchanted Profile, "Next to Reading Matter", Art and the Bronco, Phœbe, A Double-dyed Deceiver, The Passing of Black Eagle, A Retrieved Reformation, Cherchez la Femme, Friends in San Rosario, The Fourth in Salvador, The Emancipation of Billy, The Enchanted Kiss, A Departmental Case, The Renaissance at Charleroi, On Behalf of the Management, Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking, The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss, Two Renegades & The Lonesome Road

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBooklassic
    Release dateJun 18, 2015
    ISBN9789635241224
    Author

    O. Henry

    O. Henry (1862-1910) was an American short story writer. Born and raised in North Carolina, O. Henry—whose real name was William Sydney Porter—moved to Texas in 1882 in search of work. He met and married Athol Estes in Austin, where he became well known as a musician and socialite. In 1888, Athol gave birth to a son who died soon after, and in 1889 a daughter named Margaret was born. Porter began working as a teller and bookkeeper at the First National Bank of Austin in 1890 and was fired four years later and accused of embezzlement. Afterward, he began publishing a satirical weekly called The Rolling Stone, but in 1895 he was arrested in Houston following an audit of his former employer. While waiting to stand trial, Henry fled to Honduras, where he lived for six months before returning to Texas to surrender himself upon hearing of Athol’s declining health. She died in July of 1897 from tuberculosis, and Porter served three years at the Ohio Penitentiary before moving to Pittsburgh to care for his daughter. While in prison, he began publishing stories under the pseudonym “O. Henry,” finding some success and launching a career that would blossom upon his release with such short stories as “The Gift of the Magi” (1905) and “The Ransom of Red Chief” (1907). He is recognized as one of America’s leading writers of short fiction, and the annual O. Henry Award—which has been won by such writers as William Faulkner, John Updike, and Eudora Welty—remains one of America’s most prestigious literary prizes.

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    Reviews for Roads of Destiny

    3.5/5

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    • 4/5
      A collection of short fiction by O. Henry. This is my first direct exposure to O. Henry's work, and I can definitely see the appeal of his writing style. Henry's more humorous pieces remind me of Mark Twain in their ability to fill the gaps with subtle humor of a wise-crack variety, while the more preachy plot-twists feel more heavy-handed. I can definitely see my self reading more of his work. In this collection:Roads of Destiny - Told in four parts (the other three being The Left Branch, The Right Branch, and The Main Road), a metaphorical tale about the inability to escape one's destiny. One of Henry's less than uplifting tales. Themes: Fate, Art (Poetry)The Guardian of the Accolade - A misunderstanding results in the right outcome, albeit for the wrong reasons, with some rather unfortunate dialogue.Themes: Vice/Virtue, Misunderstanding, Banks The Discounters of Money - A rich young man learns what money can't buy. Themes: Money, RomanceThe Enchanted Profile - A stenographer becomes the unwitting obsession of a miserly spinster for all of the wrong reasons. Themes: Money, RomanceNext to Reading Matter - A sort of retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac as a cough drops ad, more or less. This one was a tad underwhelming. Themes: Con ArtistsArt and the Bronco - Artistic aspirations and political manipulations come to blows. One common thread popping up in many of these stories involves individuals with artistic aspirations that lack the talent to follow their muse, usually with the message being that common folk shouldn't try to be artists; a strange position for a writer to come from. Themes: Art (Painting), BureaucracyPhoebe - The story of Bad-Luck Kearny, born under an unlucky star. Themes: Fate, RevolutionA Double-Dyed Deceiver - A con-job goes wrong. Or does it? Themes: Con Artists, FateThe Passing of Black Eagle - A Rags to Riches story, of sorts, regarding the sudden arrival and mysterious disappearance of an outlaw legend. Themes: Con Artists, DerelictsA Retrieved Reformation - A notorious safe-cracker takes a stab at the straight and narrow. Themes: Redemption, CriminalsCherchez La Femme - Two reporters attempt to find the woman behind a dead man's missing fortune. Themes: Misunderstanding, MoneyFriends in San Rosario - A bank examiner is treated to a tale of friendship upon finding a shortfall. Themes: Loyalty, Bureaucracy, BanksThe Fourth in Salvador - An Independence Day celebration by a handful of patriots in a banana republic gets a little out of hand. Themes: Patriotism, Bureaucracy, RevolutionThe Emancipation of Billy - A father/son story, Themes: Community, FamilyThe Enchanted Kiss - Another story about romance and fate, feels very similar to Roads of Destiny. Themes: Fate, RomanceA Departmental Case - An aging cowboy turned federal employee tries to cut through the red tape to help an old friend's daughter. Themes: Loyalty, BureaucracyThe Renaissance at Charleroi - A weird little parable about fading royalty and lost family, the ending is a bit too predictable. Themes: Romance, Family, DerelictsOn Behalf of the Management - A tale of third-world politics and the management of men. Themes: Bureaucracy, Business, RevolutionWhistling Dick's Christmas Stocking - A Hobo's Christmas Eve adventures. Themes: Derelicts, RedemptionThe Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss - A "Prince and the Pauper" type story, this one is probably more entertaining than it should be due to the main narrator, Waiter Eighteen. Themes: Rich/PoorTwo Renegades - A converted confederate explains to an old friend why he left the North for the South. Cute story. Themes: Revolution, Military, BureaucracyThe Lonesome Road - A yarn about committing matrimony in the old west. One of my favorite in this collection.
    • 4/5
      Great series of Vignettes. Author has amazing ear for the rural dialect of the varied characters depicted. Stories detail life in a past romantic era passed by progress. Great chance to relive a time that may not have ever really existed to real life. Fast moving and engaging! Now I know why O Henry has such a wide distribution and affectionate following. Highly recommend for those wanting a flavor of the past with the capture of "Real" characters.

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    Roads of Destiny - O. Henry

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