From the back cover: To readers around the world, O.Henry - one of the most famous pen names in history - means the very best in short story writing. Since the beginning of hte twentieth century, O.Henry's writing has entertained and delighted each generation with its exceptional inventiveness, dazzling wordplay, and wry combination of pathos and humor. This collection of forty-one of O.Henry's finest stories includes both his most famous works, such as "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Furnished Room", and those which demonstrate his extraordinary technical genius. Arranged according to geographical location, these tales display the wide range of O.Henry's world, from the streets of his beloved New York City to exotic locales south of the border. With his wonderful plot twists, surprise endings, and deep insights into human nature, O.Henry continues to touch the imaginations and the hearts of each new generation of readers.