William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short story writer known for his surprise endings. The story "The Last Leaf" is set in Greenwich Village during a pneumonia epidemic. It centers on artists Sue and Johnsy who share a studio. Johnsy becomes ill with pneumonia and believes she will die once the last leaf falls from a vine outside her window. Their elderly neighbor Mr. Behrman also falls ill. He creates a masterpiece painting for Johnsy before ultimately passing away, with the last leaf still on the vine, allowing Johnsy to recover.

1. The Last Leaf
By o’Henry
Prepared by Nidhi Jethava

2. About O’Henry
● William Sydney Porter (September 11, 1862 – June 5, 1910), better
known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short story
writer.
● Porter was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. He moved to Texas
in 1882, where he met his wife, Athol Estes, with whom he had two
children. In 1902, after the death of his wife, Porter moved to New
York, where he soon remarried. It was while he was in New York
that Porter's most intensive writing period occurred, with Porter
writing 381 short stories.
● Porter's works include "The Gift of the Magi", "The Duplicity of
Hargraves", and "The Ransom of Red Chief". His stories are known
for their surprise endings and witty narration. Porter also wrote
poetry and non-fiction.
● Porter's legacy includes the O. Henry Award, an annual prize
awarded to outstanding short stories.
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3. The Last Leaf is a short
story by O. Henry published
in his 1907 collection The
Trimmed Lamp and Other
Stories. The story first
appeared on October 15,
1905, in the New York
World. The story is set in
Greenwich Village during a
pneumonia epidemic.
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4. Characters
Sue, Johnsy and Mr. Behrman

5. Brief Summary
✘ The story centers on Sue and Johnsy, two young women artists
who met in a restaurant, discovered their shared tastes in art,
and decided to live and work together.
✘ They share an inexpensive studio at the top of a run-down
apartment building. When winter falls, a stranger named “Mr.
Pneumonia” visits the neighborhood, and people begin to fall
ill. Johnsy, too, becomes grievously ill with a case of
pneumonia.
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6. Brief Summary
✘ Johnsy was caught by this illness, and very less chances for her
survival.
✘ She everyday watched one tree which leaves are falling and
she things that when every leaves will fall, she will die and this
things will come to know their old neighbour Mr. Behrman.
✘ He also caught by this illness and he draw the masterpiece for
Johnsy and he dies.
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