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