A Houston Romance by O. Henry (1916)
The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She becomes pregnant and the man's family disowns him due to her pregnancy. The couple moves to Houston where they live in poverty, struggling to make ends meet.
By O. Henry · First published 1916 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Mystery · 841 words
First lines
About two years ago one of the most popular young society men in Houston mysteriously disappeared. He had been the glass of fashion and the mold of form of the Magnolia City for several years. Especially was he noted for his exquisite and fashionable dress, and he was regarded as the leader in bringing out the latest and correct styles of clothing. No one in Houston ever saw a wrinkle in his elegantly fitting clothes, or a spot upon his snowy linen. He possessed sufficient means to enable him to devote his whole time to society and the art of dress, and in his whole bearing and manners was well nigh equal to the famous Beau Brummel.
What this Textopian page supports
A Houston Romance is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Philosophical Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 841 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Houston Romance by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Houston Romance?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- An Unknown Romance by O. Henry
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of identity, societal expectations, and personal fulfillment, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Romance — The narrative involves elements of personal relationships and emotional connections, central to the romance genre.
- Mystery — The initial disappearance of the protagonist creates a sense of intrigue and suspense, aligning with mystery elements.
- Philosophical Fiction — The protagonist's journey reflects deeper philosophical questions about happiness and societal roles.
Tags
Romance · Short Story · American Literature · Classic Fiction · Love Story · Tragic Love · Fate vs Free Will · Social Class · Marriage · Deception · Betrayal · Guilt