O. Henry, born William Sydney Porter, was a renowned American short story writer best known for his surprise endings. He was born in 1862 in North Carolina and became a pharmacist at age 19, though he had begun suffering from tuberculosis. In the late 1880s, he began writing short stories in earnest to support his family while working various jobs, including as a banker and reporter. By the early 1900s, O. Henry had written over 300 short stories, nearly all with his signature twist endings. Though he faced legal troubles and imprisonment for several years, his writing popularity soared after his release, establishing him as a master of the short story form.

1. O. HenryO. Henry

2. Early LifeEarly Life
 O. Henry was born William Sydney Porter,O. Henry was born William Sydney Porter,
son of a doctor and an artistic mother, onson of a doctor and an artistic mother, on
September 11, 1862September 11, 1862 in Northin North
Carolina.Carolina.
 According to O. Henry, “I did more readingAccording to O. Henry, “I did more reading
between my thirteenth and my nineteenthbetween my thirteenth and my nineteenth
years than I have done in all the yearsyears than I have done in all the years
since.”since.”

3. JobsJobs
 At age fifteen O.Henry’s formal schoolingAt age fifteen O.Henry’s formal schooling
ended, and he took an apprenticeship atended, and he took an apprenticeship at
his uncle’s pharmacy.his uncle’s pharmacy.
 At age nineteen he became a licensedAt age nineteen he became a licensed
pharmacist.pharmacist.
 This job choice was ironic since O.HenryThis job choice was ironic since O.Henry
began suffering from tuberculosis aroundbegan suffering from tuberculosis around
that same time.that same time.

4. The Writing BeginsThe Writing Begins

Shortly after his marriage inShortly after his marriage in 18871887, O., O.
Henry began perfecting his short storiesHenry began perfecting his short stories
which he previously had written simply towhich he previously had written simply to
entertain friends.entertain friends.
 To pay the bills, he took on a job as aTo pay the bills, he took on a job as a
banker and worked as a reporter andbanker and worked as a reporter and
occasional cartoonist for a Houstonoccasional cartoonist for a Houston
newspaper.newspaper.

5.  Eventually, O. Henry wrote around 300Eventually, O. Henry wrote around 300
short stories (sixty-five in 1904 alone!),short stories (sixty-five in 1904 alone!),
during his 10 year literary career.during his 10 year literary career.
 Nearly all stories included his signatureNearly all stories included his signature
surprise ending, or “snapper” as he calledsurprise ending, or “snapper” as he called
it.it.

6. ““Snappers”Snappers”
 O. Henry’s own life was full of twists and turns,O. Henry’s own life was full of twists and turns,
making his interest in the surprise, twistymaking his interest in the surprise, twisty
endings understandable.endings understandable.
 For instance, while serving time in prison O.For instance, while serving time in prison O.
Henry- in the right place at the right time- savedHenry- in the right place at the right time- saved
a warden who had overdosed on arsenic. As aa warden who had overdosed on arsenic. As a
reward, O. Henry was allowed to roam freelyreward, O. Henry was allowed to roam freely
about the jail, telling stories, and gatheringabout the jail, telling stories, and gathering
stories from fellow prisoners.stories from fellow prisoners.

7. Philosophy on WritingPhilosophy on Writing
 ““I’ll give you the whole secret of short-storyI’ll give you the whole secret of short-story
writing…Rule 1: Write short stories that pleasewriting…Rule 1: Write short stories that please
yourself. There is no Rule 2.” – O. Henryyourself. There is no Rule 2.” – O. Henry
 ““You can’t write a story that’s got any life in it byYou can’t write a story that’s got any life in it by
sitting at a writing table and thinking. You’ve gotsitting at a writing table and thinking. You’ve got
to get out into the streets, into the crowds, talkto get out into the streets, into the crowds, talk
with people, and feel the rush and throb of realwith people, and feel the rush and throb of real
life- that’s the stimulant for a story writer.” – O.life- that’s the stimulant for a story writer.” – O.
Henry, 1902.Henry, 1902.

8. Philosophy on Writing cont.Philosophy on Writing cont.
 O. Henry’s exemplified his philosophy inO. Henry’s exemplified his philosophy in
his variety of life experiences and travels:his variety of life experiences and travels:
 North CarolinaNorth Carolina
 TexasTexas
 New OrleansNew Orleans
 Escaped the police who tried to arrest himEscaped the police who tried to arrest him
on false charges of embezzling $1,000on false charges of embezzling $1,000
from the bank where he workedfrom the bank where he worked

9.  Fled to HondurasFled to Honduras
 Went to trial, was found guilty, and wasWent to trial, was found guilty, and was
sentenced to five years in a federalsentenced to five years in a federal
penitentiary in Columbus, Ohiopenitentiary in Columbus, Ohio
 Upon release- after three years for goodUpon release- after three years for good
behavior- went to New York City where hisbehavior- went to New York City where his
popularity as a writer soared.popularity as a writer soared.

10. Important Historical InfluencesImportant Historical Influences
 Civil War prior to O. Henry’s birthCivil War prior to O. Henry’s birth
 A year after O. Henry’s birth, AbrahamA year after O. Henry’s birth, Abraham
Lincoln issues the EmancipationLincoln issues the Emancipation
Proclamation (1863).Proclamation (1863).
 Lincoln assassinated in 1865.Lincoln assassinated in 1865.
 Rise of small-press publishing aroundRise of small-press publishing around
1904- making it possible for more people1904- making it possible for more people
to have access to a variety of literature-to have access to a variety of literature-
coincided with O. Henry’s rise to fame.coincided with O. Henry’s rise to fame.

11. ““Local Color”Local Color”
 During the heydey of O. Henry’s writingDuring the heydey of O. Henry’s writing
career (early 1900’s), a literary genrecareer (early 1900’s), a literary genre
called “local color” sprang up to combatcalled “local color” sprang up to combat
post-Civil War social separation.post-Civil War social separation.
 Local color involved focusing on a specificLocal color involved focusing on a specific
regional culture as a source for strength-regional culture as a source for strength-
finding common qualities betweenfinding common qualities between
different American regions.different American regions.

12. ““Local Color” continuedLocal Color” continued
 O. Henry’s region of choice was NewO. Henry’s region of choice was New
York, though he also wrote stories set inYork, though he also wrote stories set in
the West, the deep South, and Newthe West, the deep South, and New
Orleans.Orleans.
 He also convincingly wrote stories about aHe also convincingly wrote stories about a
variety of people: crooks, chiefs,variety of people: crooks, chiefs,
policemen, cowboys, aristocrats, con-policemen, cowboys, aristocrats, con-
men, poverty-stricken, and millionaires.men, poverty-stricken, and millionaires.

13. O. Henry’s Life and “Gift of theO. Henry’s Life and “Gift of the
MagiMagi
 ““Gift of the Magi” showed O. Henry’sGift of the Magi” showed O. Henry’s
interest in “local color” by giving a glimpseinterest in “local color” by giving a glimpse
of a poverty-stricken couple in New York.of a poverty-stricken couple in New York.
 This short story also exhibited O. Henry’sThis short story also exhibited O. Henry’s
knowledge of regional dialect in theknowledge of regional dialect in the
characters’ dialogue.characters’ dialogue.
 The ending is his traditional “snapper.”The ending is his traditional “snapper.”

14.  The “local color” genre sought to draw societyThe “local color” genre sought to draw society
together by finding common ground betweentogether by finding common ground between
different kinds of peopledifferent kinds of people
 Unlikely characters- such as destitute Jim andUnlikely characters- such as destitute Jim and
Della- take center stage and become the centralDella- take center stage and become the central
“spectacle.”“spectacle.”
 In “Gift of the Magi” O. Henry shows all readers-In “Gift of the Magi” O. Henry shows all readers-
rich or poor- a glimpse of how love, generosity,rich or poor- a glimpse of how love, generosity,
and self-sacrifice can be exhibited even in theand self-sacrifice can be exhibited even in the
most humble circumstances.most humble circumstances.