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The Very Best of O. Henry Audiobook
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(4.00) - 2,158 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
O. Henry, the pseudonym of the American writer William Sydney Porter (1862–1910), is best known for writing stories full of wit, wordplay, and warm characterizations, and particularly for their clever twist endings. This volume contains twenty of O. Henry's best and best-loved stories. They are marked by coincidence and surprise endings as well as the compassion and high humor that have made O. Henry's stories popular for the last century. The stories contained in this unique collection are "Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking," "The Gift of the Magi," "The Cop and the Anthem," "One Dollar's Worth," "A Retrieved Reformation," "The Last of the Troubadours," "The Caballero's Way," "Last Leaf," "The Furnished Room," "Cupid's Exile Number Two," "The Lotus and the Bottle," "The Trimmed Lamp," "Springtime à la Carte," "The Sleuths," "Out of Nazareth," "Memoirs of a Yellow Dog," "The Making of a New Yorker," "Law and Order," "Hearts and Hands," and "The Ransom of Red Chief."
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"Am not really through with this yet, but I really like O'Henry so far. He has a sharp eye for the minute, daily clashes and crashes between individuals of various races, backgrounds, etc, as per the America of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It makes me think that Singapore is in a similar situation - if only we had a writer with a sharp eye and turn of phrase to turn our history into the next generation's literature! His twists are smart but realistic, his writing sympathetic without being soppy. He has a style of introducing social criticism and philosophy into his writing, but obliquely, so you're not sure if he thinks it or stating/drescribing it in order to satirise it. One problem I have though is that after a while the stories read in very similar manner, so you need a bit of distance before coming back to read more."
— Matthew (4 out of 5 stars)
The Very Best of O. Henry Listener Reviews
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" The first book that I read in English. It was really nice. "
— Kristina, 2/5/2014 -
" I liked he Furnished Room, The Lost Blend and Roads of Destiny "
— Isaac, 2/4/2014 -
" I have long been familiar with "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Last Leaf" so I was excited to find more O'Henry gems in this book. Some of the stories were clever, and some were boring, a few were wise, but overall I was disappointed with this book. Usually when I like an author I wish they had written more, but I guess there is such a thing as being too prolific. "
— Summer, 1/29/2014 -
" O. Henry appealed to me strongly when I was young. I still enjoy rereading "The Gift of the Magi", "The Last Leaf" and "The Cop and the Anthem." They are old friends. But for the younger reader they might appear dated. Their sentimentality and arch language may not hook the younger mind. The themes of self-sacrifice and amusement at the cleverness of the poor have gone out of fashion. I read these stories now to honor a world of the past, imperfect as it was. "
— Holly, 1/26/2014 -
" Penulis cerpen terbaik. Di versiku... "
— Ferry, 1/21/2014 -
" I often attribute my sense of humor to this guy, Roald Dahl and a strong desire to hide my vulnerabilities from others... "
— Arjun, 1/13/2014 -
" O. Henry was an accomplished teller of tales. There's some duds in here (I think), but overall it's well worth it. How can you argue against 'Gift of the Magi'? "
— Chad, 1/5/2014 -
" Some truly entertaining moments. O'Henry surprises with sarcasm, wit, and a change around every corner. Everyone probably knows him for "The Gift of the Magi", but he is so much more. These stories are fairly short, so you can read one or several quickly and then come back to him when you have time. "
— Susan, 1/4/2014 -
" the original master of the short story. "
— Lindsay, 12/1/2013 -
" This is a really wonderful book of short stories. Perfect for a subway ride. "
— Jennifer, 11/26/2013 -
" Wonderful Bed-side reading with a message. Collection of some of his best work, the master of the short story "
— Zach, 6/4/2013 -
" Didn't read every story... but, I personally am finished with this book. O Henry's story are uneven...some are FANTASTIC others...no so much. "
— Rita, 3/12/2013 -
" Very victorian and sentimental, but O. Henry is a master story teller. "
— Jen, 9/26/2012 -
" It is hard to believe Saki and O Henry were contemporaries. Chekhov fine he was of different school. But the detailed often ruffian characters and clever plot of O Henry with the setting in a different land miraculously complement the fluid prose and more commonplace setting of Saki "
— Satish, 9/6/2012 -
" If you need something quick to read, short stories are the answer. "
— Megan, 9/6/2012 -
" he's really good at what he does. But reading them all in a row makes you feel very depressed "
— Murphy, 5/6/2012 -
" I gave this an extra star because it was given to me at the O Henry Hotel I stayed out and I thought that was pretty cool. The hotel also had the BEST bed I have ever slept in and the absolute BEST pillows ever. "
— Kelly, 3/16/2012 -
" I re-read some of these old favorites last year, and I have to agree with Helen that O. Henry is the master of the short story. "
— Jenny, 1/11/2012 -
" I read this stories over and over. Even though you know the ending, it's still cool the way they twist! "
— Kandice, 10/19/2011 -
" i had adpated them to film several times "
— Biju, 10/12/2011 -
" I love these short stories, funny and witty, cannot stop reading them. "
— Jiayin, 5/10/2011 -
" The stories I liked: The Last Leaf and The Cop and the Anthem. "
— Prashansa, 4/17/2011 -
" I love all stories written by O'Henry! "
— Susan, 8/4/2010 -
" Didn't read every story... but, I personally am finished with this book. O Henry's story are uneven...some are FANTASTIC others...no so much. "
— Rita, 7/28/2010 -
" These stories are amazing. The first, The Gift of the Magi, is very famous. It could made a stone cold serial killer smile. "
— Ben, 6/21/2010 -
" i adore o'henry. excellent writing style, great dry wit, beautifully crafted sentences. his stories usually have a white hat verses black theme and are good for some quick moral inventory. "
— Kari, 11/4/2008 -
" the original master of the short story. "
— Lindsay, 8/27/2007 -
" Favs are The Green Door and The Skylight Room "
— Becca, 7/26/2007
About O. Henry
O. Henry (1862–1910), born William Sydney Porter in Greensboro, North Carolina, was a short-story writer whose tales romanticized the commonplace, in particular, the lives of ordinary people in New York City. His stories often had surprise endings, a device that became identified with his name. He began writing sketches around 1887, and his stories of adventure in the Southwest United States and in Central America were immediately popular with magazine readers.
About Peter Berkrot
Peter Berkrot, winner of Audie and Earphones Awards for narration, is a stage, screen, and television actor and acting coach. He has narrated over 450 works that span a range of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, thriller, and children’s titles. His audiobook credits include works of Alan Glynn, Eric Van Lustbader, Nora Roberts and Dean Koontz. In film and television, he appeared in Caddyshack, America’s Most Wanted, and Unsolved Mysteries. He performs in regional and New York theaters and directs the New Voices acting school.