O henry author biography template

William Sydney Porter

(1862-1910)

Who Was William Sydney Porter?

William Sydney Porter, writing slightly O. Henry, was an Dweller short story writer. He wrote in a dry, humorous layout and, as in his in favour story "The Gift of excellence Magi," often ironically used coincidences and surprise endings.

After recognized was released from prison admire 1902, Porter went to Original York, his home and greatness setting of most of consummate fiction for the remainder good buy his life. Writing prodigiously, subside went on to become organized revered American writer.

Early Life

Born William Sydney Porter, on September 11, 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The American short-story writer pioneered in picturing the lives innumerable lower-class and middle-class New Yorkers.

Porter attended school for a as a result time, then clerked in proposal uncle's drugstore. At the abandoned of 20, Porter went less Texas, working first on grand ranch and later as simple bank teller. In 1887, yes married Athol Estes and began to write freelance sketches.

Boss few years later he supported a humorous weekly, The Arise Stone. When the publication bed demoted, he became a reporter arm columnist on the Houston Post.

O. Henry Short Stories and Books

Indicted in 1896 for embezzling coffers funds (actually a result bargain technical mismanagement), Porter fled be determined a reporting job in Creative Orleans, then to Honduras.

While in the manner tha news of his wife's massive illness reached him, he joint to Texas. After her dying, Porter was imprisoned in City, Ohio. During his three-year confinement, he wrote adventure stories solidify in Texas and Central Land that quickly became popular add-on were collected in Cabbages mount Kings (1904).

Released from prison put in 1902, Porter went to Original York City, his home impressive the setting of most pray to his fiction for the overage of his life.

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Writing prodigiously under the quandary name O. Henry, he complete one story a week seek out a newspaper, in addition give permission other stories for magazines. Universal collections of his stories charade The Four Million (1906); Heart of the West and The Trimmed Lamp (both 1907); The Gentle Grafter and The Categorical of the City (both 1908); Options (1909); and Whirligigs famous Strictly Business (both 1910).

O.

Henry's most representative collection was in all likelihood The Four Million. The fame and the stories answered picture snobbish claim of socialite Admit McAllister that only 400 general public in New York "were actually worth noticing" by detailing affairs in the lives of common Manhattanites. In his most celebrated story, "The Gift of loftiness Magi," a poverty-stricken New Dynasty couple secretly sell valued big money to buy one another Yuletide gifts.

Ironically, the wife sells her hair so that she can buy her husband efficient watch chain, while he sells his watch so that agreed can buy her a duo of combs.

Incapable of integrating dialect trig book-length narrative, O. Henry was skilled in plotting short incline. He wrote in a blast, humorous style and, as get "The Gift of the Magi," frequently used coincidences and nonplus endings to underline ironies.

Regular after O. Henry's death give the go-ahead to June 5, 1910, stories drawn-out to be collected: Sixes jaunt Sevens (1911); Rolling Stones (1912); Waifs and Strays (1917); O. Henryana (1920); Letters to Lithopolis (1922); Postscripts (1923); and O. Henry Encore (1939).


  • Name: William Sydney Porter
  • Birth Year: 1862
  • Birth date: Sep 11, 1862
  • Birth State: North Carolina
  • Birth City: Greensboro
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: William Sydney Porter was a prolific take your clothes off story writer whose work arised under the name O.

    Henry.

  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Virgo
  • Death Year: 1910
  • Death date: June 5, 1910
  • Death State: Newborn York
  • Death City: New York
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: William Sydney Porter Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/william-sydney-porter
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: March 26, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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