No Story by O. Henry (1911)
The story revolves around a man who is struggling to make ends meet and is forced to pawn his watch for $10. He then meets a woman who offers him $20 for the watch, but he refuses, remembering that he had previously seen her wearing an identical watch. The woman reveals that she has been searching for her lost watch and is willing to pay a higher price for it.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Realism · 4,527 words
First lines
To avoid having this book hurled into corner of the room by the suspicious reader, I will assert in time that this is not a newspaper story. You will encounter no shirt-sleeved, omniscient city editor, no prodigy "cub" reporter just off the farm, no scoop, no story -- no anything.
But if you will concede me the setting of the first scene in the reporters' room of the Morning Beacon, I will repay the favor by keeping strictly my promises set forth above.
What this Textopian page supports
No Story is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Realism, Romance, Humor
- Length: 4,527 words
- Structure: 1 section, 70 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for No Story 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 No Story?
- 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
- A Newspaper Story by O. Henry
- A Story For Men by O. Henry
- The Coming Out Of Maggie by O. Henry
- The Assessor Of Success by O. Henry
- A Madison Square Arabian Night by O. Henry
- The Unprofitable Servant by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex characters and themes, focusing on human emotions and societal observations.
- Social Commentary — It critiques social norms and the struggles of individuals within society, particularly in urban settings.
- Realism — The narrative presents a realistic portrayal of life, emphasizing everyday experiences and interactions.
- Romance — The story involves romantic elements, particularly the protagonist's reflections on love and relationships.
Tags
Short story · American literature · Humor · Satire · Social commentary · Irony · Plot twist · Unreliable narrator · Absurdity · Dark humor · Morality tale · Fable