A Universal Favorite by O. Henry
The story revolves around a young couple who are struggling to make ends meet. The husband is unemployed and the wife is working multiple jobs to support them. They live in a small apartment with a large rent, which they can barely afford. One day, the husband comes up with a plan to pay off their debts by selling some of his possessions at an auction. However, he gets drunk and loses all of the money at a poker game. The wife discovers what has happened and is furious. The couple's situation becomes even more desperate when they receive an eviction notice from their landlord. They are forced to move out of their apartment and into a small room in a boarding house. As they struggle to come up with the rent, the husband comes up with another plan. He decides to sell his wife's wedding ring at the auction, despite her protests. The ring is sold for a large sum of money, which allows them to pay off their debts and move back into their apartment. However, just as things are starting to look up, the husband reveals that he has been lying about his past. He had previously been married and had a child with his first wife, who died shortly after giving birth. The husband's current wife is shocked and heartbroken by this revelation. The story ends with the couple's relationship in shambles, and their future uncertain.
By O. Henry · First published 1914 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Social Commentary · 147 words
First lines
The most popular and best loved young lady in the United States is Miss Annie Williams of Philadelphia. Her picture is possessed by more men, and is more eagerly sought after than that of Lillian Russell, Mrs. Langtry, or any other famous beauty. There is more demand for her pictures than for the counterfeit presentments of all the famous men and women in the world combined. And yet she is a modest, charming, and rather retiring young lady, with a face less beautiful than of a clear and classic outline.
Miss Williams is soon to be married, but it is expected that the struggle for her pictures will go on as usual.
What this Textopian page supports
A Universal Favorite 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, Romance, Social Commentary, Humor, Short Story
- Length: 147 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Universal Favorite 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 Universal Favorite?
- 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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- Willing To Compromise by O. Henry
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores themes of beauty, popularity, and societal perceptions, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Romance — The narrative centers around a young lady's impending marriage, highlighting romantic elements.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques societal values regarding beauty and fame, fitting the social commentary genre.
- Humor — The writing style includes wit and irony, typical of humorous literature.
Tags
Short Story · Classic Literature · American Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Plot Twist · Romance · Tragedy · Fate vs Free Will · Morality Tale