The Four Million
Written by O. Henry
Narrated by LibriVox Community
5/5
()
About this audiobook
Born in 1862 and died in 1910, O. Henry’s birth name is William Sydney Porter; however, he adopted the pen name O. Henry while in prison. He published 10 collections and over 600 short stories during his lifetime.
The Four Million is the second book written by O. Henry while he served time for embezzlement in a penitentiary in Ohio. The book is a series of short stories which take place in New York City in the early years of the 20th century and are representative of the surprise endings that popularized O. Henry’s work. They also capture his use of coincidence or chance to create humor in the story. O Henry wrote about ordinary people in everyday circumstances. He is quoted as once saying, “There are stories in everything. I’ve got some of my best yarns from park benches, lampposts and newspaper stands.”
I hope you enjoy the following readings as much as I enjoyed recording them.
(Summary by Marian Brown)
O. Henry
O. Henry (1862-1910) was an American short story writer. Born and raised in North Carolina, O. Henry—whose real name was William Sydney Porter—moved to Texas in 1882 in search of work. He met and married Athol Estes in Austin, where he became well known as a musician and socialite. In 1888, Athol gave birth to a son who died soon after, and in 1889 a daughter named Margaret was born. Porter began working as a teller and bookkeeper at the First National Bank of Austin in 1890 and was fired four years later and accused of embezzlement. Afterward, he began publishing a satirical weekly called The Rolling Stone, but in 1895 he was arrested in Houston following an audit of his former employer. While waiting to stand trial, Henry fled to Honduras, where he lived for six months before returning to Texas to surrender himself upon hearing of Athol’s declining health. She died in July of 1897 from tuberculosis, and Porter served three years at the Ohio Penitentiary before moving to Pittsburgh to care for his daughter. While in prison, he began publishing stories under the pseudonym “O. Henry,” finding some success and launching a career that would blossom upon his release with such short stories as “The Gift of the Magi” (1905) and “The Ransom of Red Chief” (1907). He is recognized as one of America’s leading writers of short fiction, and the annual O. Henry Award—which has been won by such writers as William Faulkner, John Updike, and Eudora Welty—remains one of America’s most prestigious literary prizes.
More audiobooks from O. Henry
A Timeless Christmas: A Collection of Classic Stories and Poems Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Favorite Stories of Christmas Past Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Very Best of O. Henry Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Twelve Short Stories by O. Henry Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Classic Short Stories: From the Great Storywriters of the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to The Four Million
Related audiobooks
B. J. Harrison Reads The Million Pound Bank Note Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Trimmed Lamp: and other Stories of the Four Million Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhirligigs Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5B. J. Harrison Reads The Descent of Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsButtered Side Down Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWallet of Kai Lung Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5David Copperfield (version 2) Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Short Story Collection Vol. 063 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLetters of Two Brides Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShort Stories About Survival: A collection of survival stories from some of the greatest authors in history. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOptions Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5B. J. Harrison Reads The Furnished Room Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Two Heroines of Plumpington Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMartin Eden Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Schoolmaster and Other Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFirm of Nucingen Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJude the Obscure (Version 2) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDombey and Son Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Marquise de Ganges: Celebrated Crimes, Book 18 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Side of Paradise (version 2) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHeart of the West Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Lepers of Molokai Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBarbara of the House of Grebe Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Industrial Revolution Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKnickerbocker's History of New York, Vol. 2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Literary Treasures: Great Short Stories by Acclaimed Writers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShort Story Collection Vol. 021 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Faith of Men Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsConan Doyle - Selected Short Stories Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Idle Thoughts Of An Idle Fellow Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Action & Adventure Fiction For You
Bow Before the Elf Queen: The Elf Queen Book 1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Count of Monte Cristo Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Hobbit Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5SILO (Book 1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Happiness for Beginners: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Untraceable Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Strain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rider of Lost Creek Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Golden Son Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Closed and Common Orbit Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Crooked Staircase: A Jane Hawk Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Red Rising Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5V for Vendetta Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Box-Car Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dragon Teeth: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Around the World in 80 Days: Classic Tales Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5River Wild: A Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Neverwhere Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Grace of Kings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hour of the Assassin: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Picnic in the Ruins Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What Have We Done: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5T. H. Elkman: A Western Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ragged Edge of Night Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Godblind: The Godblind Trilogy, Book One Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for The Four Million
1 rating0 reviews