Revenge by O. Henry (1913)
A wealthy man's daughter is kidnapped and a ransom is demanded. The father pays the ransom but then discovers that his daughter was never actually taken. He had been tricked by a poor man who wanted to get rich quickly.
By O. Henry · First published 1913 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Short Story · 342 words
First lines
The man, woman, child, or animal who pens "Postscripts" for the Houston Post is a weird, wild-eyed genius and ought to be captured and put on exhibition with the "nameless things" they are taking out of the government well at San Marcos. There is certainly a reward for both specimens. Kyle Star-Vindicator
Although we can stand a great deal, this attack has goaded us to what is perhaps a bitter and cruel, but not entirely an unjustifiable revenge. Below will be found an editorial from the last number of the Star-Vindicator:
What this Textopian page supports
Revenge is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1913 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: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Drama, Short Story, Satire, Romance
- Length: 342 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Revenge 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 Revenge?
- 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 Tragedy by O. Henry
- A Fatal Error by O. Henry
- A Years Supply by O. Henry
- One Thousand Dollars by O. Henry
- After Twenty Years by O. Henry
- Bulgers Friend by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of revenge and human emotion, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Drama — The narrative involves intense emotional conflicts and moral dilemmas, typical of dramatic storytelling.
- Short Story — The concise format and focused narrative structure align with the characteristics of a short story.
- Satire — The editorial tone and critique of societal norms suggest elements of satire.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Classic Fiction · Moral Lesson · Revenge Tragedy · Irony · Twist Ending · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Poverty · Deception · Betrayal