O. Henry (pen name of William Sydney Porter, 1862-1910) was a celebrated American short story writer known for his wit, clever wordplay, and trademark surprise endings. Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Porter initially worked in various jobs - as a pharmacist, draftsman, bank teller, and journalist - before fully dedicating himself to writing.
After facing personal hardships, including a brief prison term, he began using the pseudonym ""O. Henry"" and quickly gained fame for his richly textured stories of everyday people, often set in New York City. His works, like ""The Gift of the Magi,"" ""The Ransom of Red Chief,"" and collections such as ""Whirligigs,"" captured human emotions with humor, compassion, and an ironic twist of fate.
O. Henry's literary legacy remains influential, symbolizing the power of storytelling to illuminate the complexities of ordinary life with extraordinary charm.
