Daunt Books

Step into the boarding houses and furnished rooms of New York City, or take a stroll around the park. Observe the tumult and glitter of Broadway on a Saturday night, and browse the silken stockings in Manhattan’s most exclusive store. Hop onto the Coney Island ferry to join the lovesick shop-girl, the drunken down-and-out and the secret millionaire in the city's dance of folly and pleasure.

O. Henry is now regarded as one of the pre-eminent masters of the short story form, as the eponymous award created after his death testifies. A bank teller, embezzler, jailbird and finally an author, he died in 1910 with a catalogue of 600 stories to his name.
Click here to read the first story.

Return to search results