Blind Man's Holiday by O. Henry
The story revolves around a blind man who is on holiday with his wife. They are traveling by train and the blind man's wife is reading to him from a newspaper about a murder that took place in their hometown. The victim was a wealthy businessman, and the police have no leads. As they continue their journey, the blind man becomes increasingly agitated, eventually demanding that his wife stop reading the article. He reveals that he is actually the killer, and had planned to return home incognito after committing the crime. The story ends with the implication that the blind man's plan has been foiled by his own wife, who has discovered his true identity and may now be in a position to turn him in to the authorities.
By O. Henry · First published 1912 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Drama · 9,013 words
First lines
Alas for the man and for the artist with the shifting point of perspective! Life shall be a confusion of ways to the one; the landscape shall rise up and confound the other. Take the case of Lorison. At one time he appeared to himself to be the feeblest of fools; at another he conceived that he followed ideals so fine that the world was not yet ready to accept them. During one mood he cursed his folly; possessed by the other, he bore himself with a serene grandeur akin to greatness: in neither did he attain the perspective.
Generations before, the name had been "Larsen. " His race had bequeathed him its fine-strung, melancholy temperament, its saving balance of thrift and industry.
What this Textopian page supports
Blind Man's Holiday is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1912 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: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Drama, Social Commentary, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 9,013 words
- Structure: 1 section, 155 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Blind Man's Holiday by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of love, identity, and societal perception through rich character development and introspective narrative.
- Romance — The central plot revolves around the romantic relationship between the protagonists, highlighting their emotional struggles and societal challenges.
- Drama — The narrative is filled with emotional tension and conflict, focusing on the characters' internal and external struggles.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal norms and the stigma surrounding personal failures and redemption.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Wealth Inequality · Moral Ambiguity · Deception · Disguise · Identity Crisis · Appearance vs Reality