The Ransom of Red Chief

O. Henry’s short stories brim with lively wit and wisdom, sudden twist endings and amusing characterizations, plus memorable moral lessons. An iconic author at his height in the early 20th century, O. Henry was industrious and prolific, turning out short stories at astonishing speed. The breezy dialogue and descriptive prose tend to be witty and playful, with the author occasionally venturing to the satirical in his plotting.