The Diamond of Kali by O. Henry
A young woman's life is forever changed when she discovers a valuable diamond and must navigate the complexities of her new circumstances while confronting her own moral character.
By O. Henry · First published 1908 · Genre: Short Story, Adventure, Mystery · 2,563 words
First lines
The original news item concerning the diamond of the goddess Kali was handed in to the city editor. He smiled and held it for a moment above the wastebasket. Then he laid it back on his desk and said: "Try the Sunday people; they might work something out of it."
The Sunday editor glanced the item over and said: "H'm! " Afterward he sent for a reporter and expanded his comment.
Similar titles
- A Guarded Secret by O. Henry
- Lord Oakhursts Curse by O. Henry
- At Arms With Morpheus by O. Henry
- His Doubt by O. Henry
- The Memento by O. Henry
- The Caliph And The Cad by O. Henry
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story arc within a limited word count.
- Adventure — The plot involves elements of danger, exploration, and the pursuit of a valuable object, characteristic of adventure narratives.
- Mystery — The story revolves around the intrigue of a precious diamond and the threats surrounding its possession, creating a sense of suspense.
- Humor — The dialogue and situations contain comedic elements, particularly through the interactions between the reporter and the General.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Adventure · Romance · Short Story · Classic Literature · American Fiction · 19th Century Literature · Literary Fiction · Symbolism · Allegory · Social Commentary
What this Textopian page supports
The Diamond of Kali is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Adventure, Mystery, Humor, Fiction
- Length: 2,563 words
- Structure: 1 section, 63 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Diamond of Kali 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