This image is the cover for the book The Gentle Grafter, Classics To Go

The Gentle Grafter, Classics To Go

There is a wonderful irony in O Henry’s short story collection, The Gentle Grafter (Kindle edition). Almost every American has read The Gift of the Magi. It has become a cultural meme. A warm hearted story of loving and gifting. These are also warm hearted stories of con men and grafting. Think of Damon Runyoun’s Nathan Detroit on the road. There is humor in grafting and O Henry manages a light touch even has his heart-of-gold thieves touch their marks, ever so lightly.

O. Henry

O. Henry was the pen name of American writer William Sydney Porter (1862-1910). Porteras 400 short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, characterization and the clever use of twist endings. He travelled to Austin in 1884, where he took a number of different jobs over the next several years, first as pharmacist then as a draftsman, bank teller and journalist. He also began writing as a sideline to employment. Porteras most prolific writing period started in 1902, when he moved to New York City to be near his publishers. He wrote 381 short stories while living there. He wrote a story a week for over a year for the New York World Sunday Magazine. His wit, characterization and plot twists were adored by his readers, but often panned by the critics. Yet, he went on to gain international recognition and is credited with defining the short story as a literary art form.

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