The Greater Coney by O. Henry (1912)
A young man inherits a large sum of money from a distant relative and decides to use it to buy a small island off the coast of New York City. He plans to turn it into a resort for people who are tired of the city's noise and chaos, but his vision is not shared by everyone in the community.
By O. Henry · First published 1912 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Humor · 2,039 words
First lines
"Next Sunday," said Dennis Carnahan, "I'll be after going down to see the new Coney Island that's risen like a phoenix bird from the ashes of the old resort. I'm going with Norah Flynn, and we'll fall victims to all the dry goods deceptions, from the red-flannel eruption of Mount Vesuvius to the pink silk ribbons on the race-suicide problems in the incubator kiosk.
"Was I there before? I was. I was there last Tuesday. Did I see the sights? I did not.
What this Textopian page supports
The Greater Coney is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1912 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: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Humor, Social Commentary, Short Story
- Length: 2,039 words
- Structure: 1 section, 31 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Greater Coney 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 The Greater Coney?
- 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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- From The Cabbys Seat by O. Henry
- The Unprofitable Servant by O. Henry
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of nostalgia, change, and personal relationships, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Romance — The central relationship between the characters Dennis and Norah drives the emotional narrative.
- Humor — The writing style incorporates wit and satire, particularly in the depiction of societal changes at Coney Island.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques the commercialization and moral shifts in society, reflecting on cultural changes.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Struggle · Urban Life · New York City · Immigration · Poverty · Wealth Inequality · Greed