O. Henry and His Christmas Writing
Although born in Greensboro, North Carolina and a resident of Texas and New York, William Sydney Porter finds his way into the
Ohioana Library collection as a guest of the Ohio Penitentiary. Porter was incarcerated in the Ohio Penitentiary following an 1897
conviction for embezzlement.
During his prison term he was encourage to write fiction by Dr. John M. Thomas of Columbus and thus he began writing his short
stories under the pen name O. Henry. He probably borrowed his famous pen name from the captain of the guards, Orrin Henry.
It has also been suggested that his pen name was an acronym “OHio pENitentiaRY.”
O. Henry wrote many short stories revolving around the Christmas season; the most famous of which is
The Gift of the Magi. Below are several of his Christmas stories.
The Gift of the Magi
A classic Christmas short story written by O. Henry and published in his first collection of short stories The
Four Million in 1906.
Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking
His first short story, written while serving time in the Ohio Penitentiary, and published in the
collection Roads of Destiny in 1909.
A Chaparral Christmas Gift
Published in Whirligigs in 1910.
Christmas By Injunction
Published in 1907 in Heart of the West, a collection of western stories.
Compliments of the Season
Published in Strictly Business in 1910.
An Unfinished Christmas Story
Published in Rolling Stones in 1912, the story is unfinished.
The Day We Celebrate
Published in Sixes and Sevens in 1912 about a mixed up cockatoo from Ecuador.
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