Into Modern Times with O.Henry

O. Henry’s short stories are famous for wit, twists, and humanity--but they also tackle cultural issues still relevant today. This carefully curated anthology brings together some of his most powerful and entertaining works, each introduced with context to highlight its themes and explain references that may be unfamiliar to modern readers.

Whether exploring crime, race, gender, social image, or the nature of trust and love, these stories prove that O. Henry’s voice still resonates more than a century later.

Included Stories & Themes:

The Guilty Party (19:10) -- Violent crimes by minors

A Municipal Report (51:39) -- Shifting views on race

Elsie in New York (23:29) -- Exploitation of women

The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes (15:27) -- A playful parody of Sherlock Holmes

The Hiding of Black Bill (35:52) -- The limits of trust and friendship

Vanity and Some Sables (18:27) -- Image consciousness, echoing today’s social media

The Trimmed Lamp (33:29) -- Social competition in a modern-seeming mirror

The Duplicity of Hargraves (38:46) -- Honor, image, and challenging racist stereotypes

Past One at Rooney’s (37:29) -- Love at first sight, despite deception

Shearing the Wolf (17:06) -- One con answered with another

The Gift of the Magi (16:40) -- The timeless story of faith, love, and generosity

The Ransom of Red Chief (30:39) -- A mischievous boy outsmarts his kidnappers

The Cop and the Anthem (19:08) -- One man’s desperate answer to homelessness

Memoirs of a Yellow Dog (14:34) -- Enduring love for dogs, then and now

The Last Leaf (20:21) -- Faith and sacrifice help a young woman fight illness

This anthology blends performance with insight, making O. Henry’s classic stories as meaningful--and as entertaining--as ever.