William Sydney Porter, known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short-story writer of the 20th century. O. Henry's short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization, and clever twist endings. O. Henry combined humor and pathos with an ironic twist of plot. Although some critics were not so enthusiastic about his formulatic way of writing, the public loved his entertaining tales and uncomplicated characters.

"He wrote love stories, a thing I have always kept free from, holding the belief that the well-known and popular sentiment is not properly matter for publication, but something to be privately handled by the alienist and the florist." (from 'The Plutonian Fire', in The Voice of the City, 1908) 

   O. Henry wrote a story a week for the New Yourk World magazine, and published several short stiries in other magazines. O.Henry wrote such classic stories as "The Ransom of Ref", "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Furnished Room".