Somebody Lied by O. Henry (1911)
A young woman's life is turned upside down when she discovers that her fiancé has been leading a double life and has actually married another woman. The story explores themes of deception, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary · 493 words
First lines
Two men went into a saloon on Main Street yesterday and braced up solemnly to the bar. One was an old man with gray whiskers, the other was a long, lanky youth, evidently his son. Both were dressed like farm hands and they appeared somewhat bewildered at the splendor of the saloon.
The bartender asked them what they would have.
What this Textopian page supports
Somebody Lied 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, Humor, Social Commentary, Short Story, Drama
- Length: 493 words
- Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Somebody Lied 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 Somebody Lied?
- 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
- Hush Money by O. Henry
- A Guarded Secret by O. Henry
- The Memento by O. Henry
- The Cop And The Anthem by O. Henry
- A Night Errant by O. Henry
- The Friendly Call by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores human experiences and emotions through character interactions and dialogue.
- Humor — The dialogue and situation present a comedic take on the misconceptions about drinking.
- Social Commentary — It critiques societal views on alcohol consumption and the expectations surrounding it.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and focused, typical of the short story format.
Tags
Short Story · Mystery · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Plot Twist · Deception · Lies · Guilt · Shame · Redemption