Cabbage and Kings. Stories
29.99 €
Out of stock
Cabbage and Kings. Stories
29.99 €
O. Henry (William Sidney Porter) is a world-renowned American writer of the late XIX - early XX century, a master of short stories, which are characterized by subtle humor and unexpected endings. The future classic was born in 1862 in the family of a doctor who practiced in North Carolina. In his youth, William tried many professions - he was an assistant pharmacist, pharmacist, cashier, accountant, draftsman. His talent for storytelling and humour even then delighted enthusiastic listeners. William began to publish his first humorous miniatures in the humorous weekly he created. The publication burned out, but the talent of the aspiring writer was first noticed by reputable publishers. At the time, William lived in Austin and worked at the local branch of the First National Bank. After finding a shortage in the bank, he was accused of embezzlement, and although guilt was not strictly proven, the aspiring writer had to spend three long years in prison. According to one version, his pseudonym O. Henry is an abbreviated name of this correctional institution. The writer himself said that the name Henry he got from the column of secular news in the newspaper, and the initial O. was chosen because it is the simplest letter of the English alphabet. It is also possible that this pseudonym arose thanks to Ocean Henry, a French pharmacist, the directory of which the writer at one time actively used. The most fruitful period of creativity began for O. Henry at the very beginning of the XX century. At that time, the writer lived in New York and collaborated with several magazines, including such famous publications as the Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan, Strend and others. O. Henry became widely known throughout the United States. At that time he was called "American Gogol" and "American Chekhov". His short stories were read by representatives of all segments of the population - from cooks and peddlers to bankers and politicians. Almost always O. Henry drew his stories from the thick of life. The secret of his creative method was that he was just talking to people. Unfortunately, the rise of his popularity was short-lived - O. Henry died at the age of 47 from cirrhosis of the liver. This impressive edition includes one hundred and forty-seven works of the writer from twelve of his collections, including the most famous work - "Kings and cabbage". Numerous comments on stories in the publication help to perceive both all the subtleties of the writer’s style and the realities of American life at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries. The publication is decorated with about five hundred illustrations to the works of the writer from book and magazine publications of the early XX century. The book includes the novel “Kings and Cabbage” and selected novels of the classic of American literature by O. Henry (William Sidney Porter) (1862-1910).
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books by the author
- All books in the series Library of World Literature