The Champion of the Weather by O. Henry
A young man inherits a large sum of money from a distant relative and decides to use it to buy a weather forecasting business. He becomes successful but eventually loses everything in a series of bad investments. The story explores the themes of greed, hubris, and the fleeting nature of success.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Humor, Social Commentary, Fiction · 1,981 words
First lines
If you should speak of the Kiowa Reservation to the average New Yorker he probably wouldn't know whether you were referring to a new political dodge at Albany or a leitmotif from Parsifal. But out in the Kiowa Reservation advices have been received concerning the existence of New York.
A party of us were on a hunting trip in the Reservation. Bud Kingsbury, our guide, philosopher, and friend, was broiling antelope steaks in camp one night. One of the party, a pinkish-haired young man in a correct hunting costume, sauntered over to the fire to light a cigarette, and remarked carelessly to Bud:
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Genres
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and comedic observations about social interactions, particularly contrasting urban and rural communication styles.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal norms and behaviors, especially the differences in communication and social etiquette between New Yorkers and those from the West.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative that explores character interactions and personal experiences.
- Adventure — The setting involves a hunting trip, suggesting elements of adventure and exploration.
Tags
Short Story · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Weather · Meteorology · Fate · Irony · Coincidence · Chance · Luck · Morality
What this Textopian page supports
The Champion of the Weather is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1910 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: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Social Commentary, Fiction, Adventure, Slice of Life
- Length: 1,981 words
- Structure: 1 section, 38 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Champion of the Weather by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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