Rus in Urbe by O. Henry (1909)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after years abroad and becomes infatuated with the idea of being a great writer. He begins to write about his experiences in the city, but struggles to find inspiration. His writing career stalls until he meets an old friend who is now a successful businessman. The friend offers him a job as a writer for his company's advertising department, where he must create fictional stories to sell products.
By O. Henry · First published 1909 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor · 3,974 words
First lines
Considering men in relation to money, there are three kinds whom I dislike: men who have more money than they can spend; men who have more money than they do spend; and men who spend more money than they have. Of the three varieties, I believe I have the least liking for the first. But, as a man, I liked Spencer Grenville North pretty well, although he had something like two or ten or thirty millions -- I've forgotten exactly how many.
What this Textopian page supports
Rus in Urbe is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1909 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: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor, Romance, Drama
- Length: 3,974 words
- Structure: 1 section, 75 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Rus in Urbe 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 Rus in Urbe?
- 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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- The Making Of A New Yorker by O. Henry
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- Round The Circle by O. Henry
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- Newspaper Poets by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of class, wealth, and personal identity through nuanced character interactions and social commentary.
- Social Commentary — It critiques societal norms and the disparity between urban and rural lifestyles, highlighting the characters' differing perspectives on wealth and happiness.
- Humor — The dialogue is laced with wit and irony, showcasing the absurdities of the characters' situations and their views on life.
- Romance — The narrative includes romantic elements, particularly in the interactions between the protagonist and Annie Ashton, exploring themes of love and personal choice.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Urban Life · Class Struggle · Poverty · Wealth Inequality · Gentrification · Immigration · Cultural Clash