The Four Million (Part 1)

Born in 1862 and died in 1910, O. Henry’s birth name is William Sydney Porter; however, he adopted the pen name O. Henry while in prison. He published 10 collections and over 600 short stories during his lifetime.

The Four Million is the second book written by O. Henry while he served time for embezzlement in a penitentiary in Ohio.

The book is a series of short stories which take place in New York City in the early years of the 20th century and are representative of the surprise endings that popularized O. Henry’s work. They also capture his use of coincidence or chance to create humor in the story.

O Henry wrote about ordinary people in everyday circumstances. He is quoted as once saying, “There are stories in everything. I’ve got some of my best yarns from park benches, lampposts and newspaper stands.”

I hope you enjoy the following readings as much as many people do.

01- Tobin’s Palm
02- The Gift of the Magi
03- The Cosmopolite in a Cafe
04- Between Rounds
05- The Skylight Room
06- A Service of Love
07- The Coming-Out of Maggie
08- Man About Town
09- The Cop and The Anthem
10- An Adjustment of Nature
11- Memoirs of a Yellow Dog
12- The Love-Philtre of Ikey Schoestein
13- Mammon and the Archer
14- Springtime a la Carte
15- The Green Door