O. Henry - a master of irony

Hello! At last I have chosen a story for my final project. At first my attention was caught by the short story “To build a fire” by Jack London. I am fond of his descriptions of nature and wild life. I have a complete collection of his works in my small home library. 

 

I have read most of his remarkable novels and short stories. He is one of my favourite writers. But then I saw the penname O. Henry I could not resist the temptation to start reading his short story.

William Sydney Porter is the real name of O. Henry. He is an American short-story writer who vividly depicts the life of different social classes. His style is dry and humorous spiced with strange coincidences and irony. He is considered to be the master of surprised endings.

The life of O. Henry was not easy. He was a man who faced the difference between the successful life of a bank teller engaged in freelance writing and a prisoner. It is interesting that he started his literary career being in prison. Difficult life conditions made him reconsider his priorities. He wrote a vast amount of great short stories for newspapers and magazines and they continued to be collected even after his death. 

The object of my investigation is his short story entitled “Cactus”. It is dedicated to the problem of misunderstanding and lost opportunities.

Here you can listen to the recording of the story and get the general notion of it.