O.
Henry
(1862-1910)
The real name of the writer was William Sydney Porter. He
was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in a family of a doctor. He
was brought by his aunt because his mother died when he was a
small boy. After finishing school at the age of fifteen, Porter worked
in his uncle’s drugstore. Later he moved to a Texas ranch and
worked on a farm. Then he went to Austin, where he got married,
then became a bank teller. During this period he studied languages
and became interested in literature. Soon when his daughter was
born to them he was a happy husband and father, but his happiness
did not last long. He was accused of misappropriating bank
funds. Porter fled to Honduras, and returned only to be with his
dying wife. Eventually Porter was committed to a federal jail in
Ohio, where he began to write fiction seriously.
After his wife’s death Porter often thought about his
daughter who lived with her relatives. Porter wanted to send his
daughter a present for Christmas. To get money for a Christmas present he wrote a story and sent it to one of
the American magazines. The story “Whistling Dick’s Christmas Present” was published in 1899. He
signed the story “O. Henry” – the first pen-name that came into his head.
On his release in 1901 Porter made for New York – his “Baghdad on the Subway”. His popularity
rose sharply. He wrote short stories for different magazines.
During the short period of his literary activity O. Henry wrote 273 short stories and one novel
“Cabbages and Kings” (1904) depicted fantastic characters against exotic Honduran backgrounds. Both The
Four Million (1906) and The Trimmed Lamp (1097) explored the life of the multitude of New York in their
daily routines and searching for romance and adventures. Then in rapid succession came The Voice of the
City (1908), The Gentle Grafter (1908), Roads of Destiny (1909), Options (1909), Strictly Business (1910)
and Whirligigs (1910). In most of his stories the author’s sympathy is with the common people of America
whose life he knew very well. His greatest wish was that people should be happy.
Despite his popularity, O. Henry’s final years were marred by ill-health and a disparate financial
struggle. He tried to hide his past, avoiding publicity, had no close friends. He died a gentle, alienated man
(June5, 1910, New York City).
O. Henry was a talented storyteller who brought a new vigor, excitement, good humour and
suspense to the short story.
A drugstore-аптека The Trimmed Lamp – Палаючий світильник
Be accused of – бути обвинуваченим The Voice of the City-Голос великого міста
A bank teller- банківський касир The Gentle Grafter- Благородний шахрай
To misappropriate bank funds- нецільове Roads of Destiny-Шляхи долі
використання банк.коштів Strictly Business -Ділові люди
to depict- змальовувати Whirligigs - Колообіг
multitude- маса,натовп Four Million Чотири мільйони
rapid succession- швидка послідовність Cabbages and Kings-Королі і капуста
disparate financial struggle- непарна(несумісна)фінансова боротьба
alienated man- відчужена людина
vigor-сила,міць
suspense-несподіванка
