Thirty by O. Henry

America’s premiere short story author
William Nadel — editor and great, great, great nephew of the author — writes in this new collection:

"Why O Henry? Why now? The answer came in a local bookstore from a young science fiction writer. 'O Henry inspired me to become a writer!' she proclaimed. 'He knew how to tell a story and he knew how to create memorable characters!'

"Bold Venture Press has given me the chance to select what I feel are thirty of my great Uncle’s most interesting stories, including a 31st story — his only collaboration with another author, his 'pard' Al Jennings. Each story is prefaced with notes regarding the origins of stories, how they represent a simpler time in New York City and elsewhere, and how they remain relevant more than 100 years later. O Henry captured the essence of human want and desire like no other author before or since."

In addition to a comprehensive bibliography of O Henry's works, this volume features thirty-one stories:

The Caballero’s Way (first appearance of The Cisco Kid)
The Skylight Room
Hearts and Hands
A Retrieved Reformation
The Marionettes
While the Auto Waits
Madame Bo-Peep, of the Ranches
The Cactus
The Crucible
Nemesis and the Candy Man
After Twenty Years
The Trimmed Lamp
The Count and the Wedding Guest
The (original) Money Maze
Smith
The (New) Money Maze
The Last Leaf
Mammon and the Archer
The Cop and the Anthem
The Memento
The Fifth Wheel
The Unknown Quantity
The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock
The Purple Dress
The Discounters of Money
The Furnished Room
By Courier
The Romance of a Busy Broker
The Marry Month of May
Let Me Feel Your Pulse
Hard to Forget
The Gift of the Magi
Holding Up a Train