A Madison Square Arabian Night
The story revolves around a wealthy businessman who has made his fortune through questionable means and now seeks to atone for past mistakes by giving away his wealth anonymously. He devises a plan where he will give $10,000 to a stranger in need, but with one condition: the recipient must not reveal their identity or the source of the gift.
By O. Henry · First published 1906 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama · 2,828 words
First lines
To Carson Chalmers, in his apartment near the square, Phillips brought the evening mail. Beside the routine correspondence there were two items bearing the same foreign postmark.
One of the incoming parcels contained a photograph of a woman. The other contained an interminable letter, over which Chalmers hung, absorbed, for a long time. The letter was from another woman; and it contained poisoned barbs, sweetly dipped in honey, and feathered with innuendoes concerning the photographed woman.
What this Textopian page supports
A Madison Square Arabian Night is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1906 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: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama, Humor, Romance
- Length: 2,828 words
- Structure: 1 section, 52 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Madison Square Arabian Night 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 Madison Square Arabian Night?
- 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
- The Sphinx Apple by O. Henry
- A Righteous Outburst by O. Henry
- Ulysses And The Dogman by O. Henry
- Just A Little Damp by O. Henry
- The Unprofitable Servant by O. Henry
- The Greater Coney by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of identity, societal roles, and the human condition through character-driven narratives.
- Social Commentary — It critiques social issues such as homelessness and the disparity between wealth and poverty in urban settings.
- Drama — The story unfolds through intense character interactions and emotional conflicts, highlighting personal struggles.
- Humor — The dialogue contains wit and irony, particularly in the interactions between Chalmers and Plumer.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Magical Realism · Fantasy · Adventure · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · New York City Setting · Arabian Nights Parody · Folklore · Mythology