William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short story writer. O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings. In his day he was called the American answer to Guy de Maupassant. While both authors wrote plot twist endings, O. Henry's stories were considerably more playful, and are also known for their witty narration.
Most of O. Henry's stories are set in his own time, the early 20th century. Many take place in New York City and frequently feature characters with blue-collar jobs, such as policemen and waitresses.
Porter also wrote poetry and non-fiction.

CABBAGES AND KINGS
THE PROEM BY THE CARPENTER
“FOX-IN-THE-MORNING”
THE LOTUS AND THE BOTTLE
SMITH
CAUGHT
CUPID’S EXILE NUMBER TWO
THE PHONOGRAPH AND THE GRAFT
MONEY MAZE
THE ADMIRAL
THE FLAG PARAMOUNT
THE SHAMROCK AND THE PALM
THE REMNANTS OF THE CODE
SHOES
SHIPS
MASTERS OF ARTS
DICKY
ROUGE ET NOIR
TWO RECALLS
THE VITAGRAPHOSCOPE
THE FOUR MILLION
TOBIN’S PALM
THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
A COSMOPOLITE IN A CAFÉ
BETWEEN ROUNDS
THE SKYLIGHT ROOM
A SERVICE OF LOVE
THE COMING-OUT OF MAGGIE
MAN ABOUT TOWN
THE COP AND THE ANTHEM
AN ADJUSTMENT OF NATURE
MEMOIRS OF A YELLOW DOG
THE LOVE-PHILTRE OF IKEY SCHOENSTEIN
MAMMON AND THE ARCHER
SPRINGTIME À LA CARTE
THE GREEN DOOR
FROM THE CABBY’S SEAT
AN UNFINISHED STORY
THE CALIPH, CUPID AND THE CLOCK
SISTERS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
THE ROMANCE OF A BUSY BROKER
AFTER TWENTY YEARS
LOST ON DRESS PARADE
BY COURIER
THE FURNISHED ROOM
THE BRIEF DÉBUT OF TILDY
THE TRIMMED LAMP
THE TRIMMED LAMP
A MADISON SQUARE ARABIAN NIGHT
THE RUBAIYAT OF A SCOTCH HIGHBALL
THE PENDULUM
TWO THANKSGIVING DAY GENTLEMEN
THE ASSESSOR OF SUCCESS
THE BUYER FROM CACTUS CITY
THE BADGE OF POLICEMAN O’ROON
BRICKDUST ROW
THE MAKING OF A NEW YORKER
VANITY AND SOME SABLES
THE SOCIAL TRIANGLE
THE PURPLE DRESS
THE FOREIGN POLICY OF COMPANY 99
THE LOST BLEND
A HARLEM TRAGEDY
“THE GUILTY PARTY”
ACCORDING TO THEIR LIGHTS
THE LAST LEAF
THE COUNT AND THE WEDDING GUEST
THE COUNTRY OF ELUSION
THE FERRY OF UNFULFILMENT
THE TALE OF A TAINTED TENNER
ELSIE IN NEW YORK
HEART OF THE WEST
HEARTS AND CROSSES
THE RANSOM OF MACK
TELEMACHUS, FRIEND
THE HANDBOOK OF HYMEN
THE PIMIENTA PANCAKES
SEATS OF THE HAUGHTY
HYGEIA AT THE SOLITO
AN AFTERNOON MIRACLE
THE HIGHER ABDICATION
CUPID A LA CARTE
THE CABALLERO’S WAY
THE SPHINX APPLE
THE MISSING CHORD
A CALL LOAN
THE PRINCESS AND THE PUMA
THE INDIAN SUMMER OF DRY VALLEY JOHNSON
CHRISTMAS BY INJUNCTION
A CHAPARRAL PRINCE
THE REFORMATION OF CALLIOPE
THE VOICE OF THE CITY
THE VOICE OF THE CITY
THE COMPLETE LIFE OF JOHN HOPKINS
A LICKPENNY LOVER
DOUGHERTY’S EYE-OPENER
“LITTLE SPECK IN GARNERED FRUIT”
THE HARBINGER
WHILE THE AUTO WAITS
A COMEDY IN RUBBER
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS
THE DEFEAT OF THE CITY
THE SHOCKS OF DOOM
THE PLUTONIAN FIRE
NEMESIS AND THE CANDY MAN
SQUARING THE CIRCLE
ROSES, RUSES AND ROMANCE
THE CITY OF DREADFUL NIGHT
THE EASTER OF THE SOUL
THE FOOL-KILLER
TRANSIENTS IN ARCADIA
THE RATHSKELLER AND THE ROSE
THE CLARION CALL
EXTRADITED FROM BOHEMIA
A PHILISTINE IN BOHEMIA
FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY
THE MEMENTO
ROADS OF DESTINY
ROADS OF DESTINY
THE LEFT BRANCH
THE RIGHT BRANCH
THE MAIN ROAD
THE GUARDIAN OF THE ACCOLADE
THE DISCOUNTERS OF MONEY
THE ENCHANTED PROFILE
“NEXT TO READING MATTER”
ART AND THE BRONCO
PHŒBE
A DOUBLE-DYED DECEIVER
THE PASSING OF BLACK EAGLE
A RETRIEVED REFORMATION
CHERCHEZ LA FEMME
FRIENDS IN SAN ROSARIO
THE FOURTH IN SALVADOR
THE EMANCIPATION OF BILLY
THE ENCHANTED KISS
A DEPARTMENTAL CASE
BENTON SHARP MEETS HIS MATCH
THE RENAISSANCE AT CHARLEROI
ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGEMENT
WHISTLING DICK’S CHRISTMAS STOCKING
THE HALBERDIER OF THE LITTLE RHEINSCHLOSS
TWO RENEGADES
THE LONESOME ROAD
OPTIONS
“THE ROSE OF DIXIE”
THE THIRD INGREDIENT
THE HIDING OF BLACK BILL
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS
THIMBLE, THIMBLE
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
BURIED TREASURE
TO HIM WHO WAITS
HE ALSO SERVES
THE MOMENT OF VICTORY
THE HEAD-HUNTER
NO STORY
THE HIGHER PRAGMATISM
BEST-SELLER
RUS IN URBE
A POOR RULE
STRICTLY BUSINESS
STRICTLY BUSINESS
THE GOLD THAT GLITTERED
BABES IN THE JUNGLE
THE DAY RESURGENT
THE FIFTH WHEEL
THE POET AND THE PEASANT
THE ROBE OF PEACE
THE GIRL AND THE GRAFT
THE CALL OF THE TAME
THE UNKNOWN QUANTITY
THE THING’S THE PLAY
A RAMBLE IN APHASIA
A MUNICIPAL REPORT
PSYCHE AND THE PSKYSCRAPER
A BIRD OF BAGDAD
COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON
A NIGHT IN NEW ARABIA
THE GIRL AND THE HABIT
PROOF OF THE PUDDING
PAST ONE AT ROONEY’S
THE VENTURERS
THE DUEL
“WHAT YOU WANT”
WHIRLIGIGS
THE WORLD AND THE DOOR
THE THEORY AND THE HOUND
THE HYPOTHESES OF FAILURE
CALLOWAY’S CODE
A MATTER OF MEAN ELEVATION
“GIRL”
SOCIOLOGY IN SERGE AND STRAW
THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF
THE MARRY MONTH OF MAY
A TECHNICAL ERROR
SUITE HOMES AND THEIR ROMANCE
THE WHIRLIGIG OF LIFE
A SACRIFICE HIT
THE ROADS WE TAKE
A BLACKJACK BARGAINER
THE SONG AND THE SERGEANT
ONE DOLLAR’S WORTH
A NEWSPAPER STORY
TOMMY’S BURGLAR
A CHAPARRAL CHRISTMAS GIFT
A LITTLE LOCAL COLOUR
GEORGIA’S RULING
BLIND MAN’S HOLIDAY
A MEDLEY OF MOODS
MADAME BO-PEEP, OF THE RANCHES
THE TWO WOMEN
THE ONE: A FOG IN SANTONE
THE OTHER: A MEDLEY OF MOODS
SIXES AND SEVENS
THE LAST OF THE TROUBADOURS
THE SLEUTHS
WITCHES’ LOAVES
THE PRIDE OF THE CITIES
HOLDING UP A TRAIN
ULYSSES AND THE DOGMAN
THE CHAMPION OF THE WEATHER
MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN
AT ARMS WITH MORPHEUS
A GHOST OF A CHANCE
JIMMY HAYES AND MURIEL
THE DOOR OF UNREST
THE DUPLICITY OF HARGRAVES
LET ME FEEL YOUR PULSE
OCTOBER AND JUNE
THE CHURCH WITH AN OVERSHOT-WHEEL
NEW YORK BY CAMP FIRE LIGHT
THE ADVENTURES OF SHAMROCK JOLNES
THE LADY HIGHER UP
THE GREATER CONEY
LAW AND ORDER
TRANSFORMATION OF MARTIN BURNEY
THE CALIPH AND THE CAD
THE DIAMOND OF KALI
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE
THE GENTLE GRAFTER
THE OCTOPUS MAROONED
JEFF PETERS AS A PERSONAL MAGNET
MODERN RURAL SPORTS
THE CHAIR OF PHILANTHROMATHEMATICS
THE HAND THAT RILES THE WORLD
THE EXACT SCIENCE OF MATRIMONY
A MIDSUMMER MASQUERADE
SHEARING THE WOLF
INNOCENTS OF BROADWAY
CONSCIENCE IN ART
THE MAN HIGHER UP
A TEMPERED WIND
HOSTAGES TO MOMUS
THE ETHICS OF PIG
ROLLING
THE DREAM
A RULER OF MEN
THE ATAVISM OF JOHN TOM LITTLE BEAR
HELPING THE OTHER FELLOW
THE MARIONETTES
THE MARQUIS AND MISS SALLY
A FOG IN SANTONE
THE FRIENDLY CALL
A DINNER AT ––––
SOUND AND FURY
TICTOCQ
TRACKED TO DOOM
A SNAPSHOT AT THE PRESIDENT
AN UNFINISHED CHRISTMAS STORY
THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT
ARISTOCRACY VERSUS HASH
THE PRISONER OF ZEMBLA
A STRANGE STORY
FICKLE FORTUNE OR HOW GLADYS HUSTLED
AN APOLOGY
LORD OAKHURST’S CURSE
BEXAR SCRIP NO. 2692
QUERIES AND ANSWERS
WAIFS AND STRAYS
THE RED ROSES OF TONIA
ROUND THE CIRCLE
THE RUBBER PLANT’S STORY
OUT OF NAZARETH
CONFESSIONS OF A HUMORIST
THE SPARROWS IN MADISON SQUARE
HEARTS AND HANDS
THE CACTUS
THE DETECTIVE DETECTOR
THE DOG AND THE PLAYLET
A LITTLE TALK ABOUT MOBS
THE SNOW MAN
O HENRYANA
THE CRUCIBLE
A LUNAR EPISODE
THREE PARAGRAPHS
BULGER’S FRIEND
A PROFESSIONAL SECRET
THE ELUSIVE TENDERLOIN
THE STRUGGLE OF THE OUTLIERS
MY TUSSLE WITH THE DEVIL by O. Henry’s Ghost
THE BARRAGE FIRE
COMMENTS
OVER THERE
FOREWORD
MY TUSSLE WITH THE DEVIL
THE CONTEST
SLEEPING
YEARNING
ANIMALS
WEARINESS
THE SLAVE
FREEDOM
JEWELS
MULTITUDES
GOING HOME
THE THREE H’S
THE SENSES
FANCIES
TRUSTING
THOUGHTS
THINKING
YESTERDAY-TODAY
“LOVE”
A VISION