A Midsummer Masquerade by O. Henry

Name: A Midsummer Masquerade
Author: O. Henry

The story revolves around a wealthy socialite who hosts an extravagant masquerade ball to showcase her wealth and status. However, the evening takes a turn when a mysterious figure appears, exposing the guests' true identities and revealing their deepest secrets. The protagonist's life is forever changed as she navigates the consequences of her actions and the repercussions of being exposed.

By O. Henry · First published 1908 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Fiction · 2,665 words

First lines

"Satan," said Jeff Peters, "is a hard boss to work for. When other people are having their vacation is when he keeps you the busiest. As old Dr. Watts or St. Paul or some other diagnostician says: ‘He always finds somebody for idle hands to do.'

"I remember one summer when me and my partner, Andy Tucker, tried to take a layoff from our professional and business duties; but it seems that our work followed us wherever we went.

What this Textopian page supports

A Midsummer Masquerade is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
Language: English
Genres: Comedy, Satire, Fiction, Adventure, Romance
Length: 2,665 words
Structure: 1 section, 43 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for A Midsummer Masquerade by O. Henry
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering A Midsummer Masquerade?
How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Comedy — The narrative employs humor and wit, focusing on the absurdity of the characters' situations and interactions.
Satire — The story critiques social norms and the pretentiousness of society through the characters' deception and the farcical elements.
Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative that explores the lives and experiences of its characters.
Adventure — The plot involves elements of adventure as the characters engage in a scheme that takes them away from their usual lives.