The Guilty Party by O. Henry (1911)
A wealthy man's daughter is kidnapped and a ransom demanded. The police investigation reveals that the kidnapper is actually the father himself, who had been embezzling funds from his company and needed the insurance payout to cover his losses.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary · 2,823 words
First lines
A red-haired, unshaven, untidy man sat in a rocking chair by a window. He had just lighted a pipe, and was puffing blue clouds with great satisfaction. He had removed his shoes and donned a pair of blue, faded carpet-slippers. With the morbid thirst of the confirmed daily news drinker, he awkwardly folded back the pages of an evening paper, eagerly gulping down the strong, black headlines, to be followed as a chaser by the milder details of the smaller type.
In an adjoining room a woman was cooking supper. Odors from strong bacon and boiling coffee contended against the cut-plug fumes from the vespertine pipe.
What this Textopian page supports
The Guilty Party 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, Drama, Social Commentary, Tragedy, Crime Fiction
- Length: 2,823 words
- Structure: 1 section, 55 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Guilty Party 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 Guilty Party?
- 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
- A Strange Case by O. Henry
- Somebody Lied by O. Henry
- The Social Triangle by O. Henry
- Checkmate by Guy De Maupassant
- The Shocks Of Doom by O. Henry
- The Ransom Of Mack by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of morality, societal issues, and human behavior, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Drama — The narrative contains intense emotional conflicts and character-driven plots typical of dramatic literature.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal norms and the consequences of urban life, reflecting social commentary.
- Tragedy — The themes of loss, despair, and moral downfall align with tragic elements.
Tags
Short Story · Mystery · Crime Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Plot Twist · Revenge · Justice · Morality · Ethics