Unabridged Audio
In life and in art O. Henry, born William Sydney Porter in 1862, epitomizes the spirit of turn-of-the-century America. As the stories on this delightful recording demonstrate, his vivid settings range from his beloved adopted city of New York, to rural Alabama, to pastoral France. Depicted with sympathetic generosity, his characters are earnest and comic, common and extraordinary. The quick pace and finely tuned plots culminate in the surprise endings that are his most characteristic contribution to the American short story.
This program opens with an introduction to O. Henry's life, providing a glimpse of a colorful youth that prompted him, for example, to take his pen name from a prison guard.
"The Gift of the Magi": Sentimental and gently ironic, this story of a young couple's perfectly symmetrical sacrifices has become one of the true American classics of the Christmas season.
"The Furnished Room": A man searches for a young singer in the theatrical rooming houses of old New York.
"The Ransom of Red Chief": Two criminals count on the impact of "filial primogeniture" when they hold a wealthy man's son for ransom- and discover their definition of a bargain changes before they collect.
"Roads of Destiny": A young shepherd yearns for the life of a poet, for adventure, romance and a nightingale's song.
Read by professional performers, Robert Donley and Jack Whitaker.
