O. Henry is released from prison
William Sydney Porter, otherwise known as O. Henry, is released from prison on this day, after serving three years in jail for embezzlement from a bank in Austin, Texas.
To escape imprisonment, Porter had fled the authorities and hidden in Honduras, but returned when his wife, still in the U.S., was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He went to jail and began writing stories to support his young daughter while he was in prison.
After his release, Porter moved to New York and worked for New York World, writing one short story a week from 1903 to 1906. In 1904, his first story collection, Cabbages and Kings, was published. His second, The Four Million (1906), contained one of his most beloved stories, The Gift of the Magi, about a poor couple who each sacrifice their most valuable possession to buy a gift for the other.
Additional collections appeared in 1906 and 1907, and two collections a year were published in 1908 until his death in 1910. He specialized in stories about everyday people, often ending with an unexpected twist. Despite the enormous popularity of the nearly 300 stories he published, he led a difficult life, struggling with financial problems and alcoholism until his death in 1910.
At least hye came back when his wife was sick and made an effort to support his daughter while he was incarcerated. More than some would do, even in this day and age.
Coffee in the kitchen once again this morning.
4 comments:
Happy to hear he took some responsibility when his wife got sick and then supported his daughter. Too many "baby daddy's" these days. Looks like the start of a beautiful day here. I'll bring some cupcakes to share.
Hey Linda...
Cupcakes are always good! Bring 'em on!
Thanks for stopping by today!
What a great story sound like he could have made it big if it wasn't for his addiction. Some time in the 1960's or maybe a little earlier they made play or a movie based on this book. My dad sang in a barber shop quartet and they sang in this movie. For the life of our family we cannot find this anywhere on the Internet.
Coffee in the kitchen is fine. we may have a drying out spell but OH the humidity is awful
That was the part of his life that I didn't know about. You are always a wealth of information, thanks for sharing.
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