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Whirligigs (1910) is a collection of short stories by American writer O. Henry. Inspired by his experiences as a fugitive and in prison, these stories address themes of poverty and provincial life with humor and abundant empathy. "The Ransom of Red Chief," the most notable of the collection's twenty-four stories, is considered one of Henry's finest works and has been adapted numerous times for television and film. "The Ransom of Red Chief" follows two petty criminals named Bill and Sam, who devise a plan to hold an influential citizen's son for ransom. They kidnap Johnny Dorset, a ten-year-old boy who soon takes a liking to the pair and gives himself the name "Red Chief." As Bill and Sam attempt to collect their ransom money, the Red Chief subjects them to tiring games and pranks, causing the two criminals to regret their hasty decision. In "The Whirligig of Life," a story set in a frontier settlement near the Cumberland Mountains, a Justice of the Peace officiates a divorce between two quarreling settlers. He charges them five dollars for the ceremony, but when the husband realizes he has no money left for alimony, the judge looks for ways to hold onto his hard-earned wages. Whirligigs is a collection of humorous stories by O. Henry, an icon of short story writing. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of O. Henry's Whirligigs is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.
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American author William Sydney Porter better known by his pen name O. Henry was best known for his short stories. "The Gift of the Magi," "The Duplicity of Hargraves," and "The Ransom of Red Chief" are some of his works. On September 11, 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina, William Sidney Porter was born. His mother was Mary Jane Virginia Swaim Porter, and his father was a doctor named Algernon Sidney Porter. He obtained his pharmacy license when he was 19 years old. His humor, storytelling prowess, and musical aptitude were well-known. He married Athol Estes in a secret ceremony in 1887. Before returning to Austin, Texas, to stand trial, he spent six months living in Honduras, where he wrote under the pen name O. Henry. Athol's health prevented him from seeing his dying wife in the United States, so he instead gave himself up to the authorities. He received a five-year prison term but was freed in 1901 on the condition that he behaved himself. Porter passed away on June 5, 1910, as a result of liver cirrhosis, diabetes-related issues, and an enlarged heart. In Asheville, North Carolina, at the Riverside Cemetery, he was laid to rest.
