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Best of O’ Henry is a compilation of twenty four short-stories by the adroit and prodigious storyteller, O. Henry. Summary Of The Book O. Henry was known for writing witty short-stories, most of which were inspired by his life and personal experiences in New York and Texas, and his wide and diverse range of professions. Most of his stories are set in the early years of the twentieth century, and were known for the surprise climaxes and twists at the end of the story. In his time, he was often called the American answer to Guy de Maupassant. O. Henry would often be credited for being able to capture the entire essence of an age in his stories, and for the remarkable ability to isolate some element of society and describe it with lucid ease. Some of his best short stories include titles such as The Handbook of Hymen, A Strange Story, An Unknown Romance, The Complete Life of John Hopkins, The Trimmed Lamp and The Marionettes. A Strange Story narrates the tale of the Smothers family in Austin and the strange disappearance of John Smothers after he left his house to purchase colic medicine for his daughter. The Handbook of Hymen reads about two young men prospecting for gold in the Bitter Root Mountains over the Montana line. The Complete Life of John Hopkins speaks of the mundane life of John Hopkins and a series of events that changed his life. This book contains a large collection of O. Henry’s short stories that have been captivating readers for a long time. About O. Henry O. Henry, born in 1862 as William Sydney Porter, was an American writer. He has written a wide range of short-stories, The Gift of the Magi, The Ransom of Red Chief, A Retrieved Reformation, Law and Order, and Compliments of the Season, to name a few. Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, O. Henry dabbled with several professions before deciding to become a short story writer. After relocating to Austin, Texas, he was employed as a bookkeeper and was accused of embezzlement, for which he served time in Ohio jail. Once released, he shifted to New York and began writing weekly stories for the New York World Sunday Magazine. He was married twice, and had a daughter named Margaret. He died in 1910 from a failing liver due to his alcoholic habits.