A Strange Case by O. Henry (1914)
The story revolves around a man who steals a diamond necklace and then tries to return it anonymously, but the owner recognizes him and demands that he marry her daughter in exchange for his freedom. The man agrees, but only if he can have a year to think about it. He spends the next year trying to come up with a plan to escape the marriage, but ultimately decides to go through with it.
By O. Henry · First published 1914 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary · 1,736 words
First lines
A Post reporter met a young Houston physician the other afternoon, with whom he is well acquainted, and suggested that they go into a neighboring café and partake of a cooling lemonade. The physician agreed, and they were soon seated at a little table in a quiet corner, under an electric fan. After the physician had paid for the lemonade, the reporter turned the conversation upon his practice, and asked if he did not meet with some strange cases in his experience.
What this Textopian page supports
A Strange Case is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1914 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: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary, Romance, Short Story
- Length: 1,736 words
- Structure: 1 section, 26 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Strange Case 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 Strange Case?
- 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 Ransom Of Mack by O. Henry
- A Guarded Secret by O. Henry
- A Fatal Error by O. Henry
- Somebody Lied by O. Henry
- No Help For It by O. Henry
- The Guilty Party by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of identity and heritage through a narrative that emphasizes character development and emotional depth.
- Humor — The story employs wit and irony, particularly in the physician's unconventional prescription, which adds a comedic element to the narrative.
- Social Commentary — The narrative reflects on societal issues such as family feuds and inherited traits, providing insight into human behavior and relationships.
- Romance — The underlying love story between the characters serves as a resolution to the conflict presented in the narrative.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Short Story · Crime Fiction · Detective Fiction · Plot Twist · Surprise Ending · Irony · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Love Triangle · Deception