O. Henry1862 - 1910

O. Henry1862 - 1910

• Birth name: William Sidney Porter

• Born September 11, 1862 (during the Civil War) in Greensboro, North Carolina

• Only formal education received from his aunt, who taught him to love books.

• His uncle taught him to be a pharmacist.

• At age 20, he moved to Texas and started to write under his pen name, “O. Henry,” - said to come from the frequent calling of, “Oh, Henry,” the family cat.

• In 1891, he became a teller at the First National Bank in Austin, Texas.

• In 1896, he was accused of embezzling money from the bank.

• He fled to New Orleans, and later to Honduras, leaving behind his wife and young daughter.

O. Henry’s home Austin, Texas

• He learned that his wife was dying, returned to America, surrendered to police.

• Much debate over his guilt, but he was convicted and sentenced to five years in jail.

• In 1898, he was sent to the penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio.

Porter family in early 1890s — Athol, daughter Margaret, William

• In prison, he began writing short stories to support his young daughter.

• He published 12 stories while in prison. He was released after three years for good behavior.

• Emerged from prison as, “O. Henry,” to shield his identity.

• Moved to New York City in 1902, published over 300 stories and gained worldwide acclaim.

• In 1906 he published a collection called, “The Four Million,” that included, “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Skylight Room,” and, “The Green Door.”

• One of his last stories, “The Ransom of Red Chief,” is perhaps his best known story.

• The following is a message to his readers left on an Edison Cylinder recording about 1908:

“This is William Sydney Porter speaking, better known to you, no doubt, as O. Henry. I’m going to let you in on a few of my secrets to writing a short story.

The most important thing, at least in my humble opinion, is to use characters and plots that are life like. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction. All of my stories are actual experiences that I have come across during my travels. My characters are facsimiles of actual people I have known.

Most authors spend hours, I’m told even days, laboring over outlines of stories they have in their minds. But not I. In my way of thinking, that’s a waste of good time. I just sit down and let my pencil do the rest.

Many people ask me how I manage to get that fine little twist in my stories. I always tell them that the unusual is the ordinary, rather than the unexpected.

Now, if you people that are listening to me now start thinking about your own lives, I’m sure you’ll discover just as many odd experiences as I’ve had.

(Part of) this little talk will be heard long after I’m gone, and I want you all to continue reading my stories then too. Goodbye folks!” --William Sidney Porter

• Lone Star Junction, http://www.lsjunction.com/people/porter.htm

• O. Henry, The Literature Network, http://www.online-literature.com/o_henry/

• Random House Author Biography, http://www.randomhouse.com/author/12671/o.-henry

• TransformingArt, O. Henry’s message to his Readers, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGqXk66yE4A&noredirect=1

• William Sydney Porter Biography, Bio.TrueStory, http://www.biography.com/people/william-sydney-porter-9542046

Bibliography