Though many critical estimates have been made of the work of O. Henry, little has been written of the man himself—and this despite the fact that his life was as colorful as any tale ever created by the magic of his imagination, and his personality an interesting study in behavior and temperament.

Born of educated parents in Greensboro, North Carolina, during Reconstruction days, William Sydney Porter was destined to know adventure, effortful endeavor, reverses of fortune, the bitter humiliation of a prison sentence, and finally, success.

In this biography we see him first as a dreamy, talented ten-year-old boy, a boy whose habit was "watching people," and then recording his impressions in pencil sketches and stories. We follow him to Texas, where as an impetuous young man he observed and participated in the exciting life of the cattle-ranger. We go with him to New Orleans, to Latin America, and ultimately, to New York—his "City of Bagdad," where he achieved ambitions, found peace, and was always rather lonely, too—the "accomplished Southern gentleman" transformed into Haroun-al-Raschid of a romantic Arabian Nights which he invented.

In any listing of significant American authors, the name of O. Henry must have unique prominence; and to William Sydney Porter, bearer of the celebrated pseudonym, much editorial tribute has been paid. Called the "Yankee Maupassant," he was an exceptional story-teller—prolific, painstaking, gifted with both charming humor and deep sincerity—and one whose skill and style vitally affected the development of the American short story form.

Stephen Leacock has said of him that "his fame has grown greater and greater with every year... And the time is coming when the whole English-speaking world will recognize in O. Henry one of the great masters of modern literature."

From the dust jacket