The Hand that Riles the World
A wealthy man's daughter is kidnapped and a ransom demanded. The kidnapper sends the father a series of cryptic clues to find the location where he can retrieve his daughter. The story follows the father's desperate search, which ultimately leads him to a surprising revelation about the identity of the kidnapper.
By O. Henry · First published 1914 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Satire · 2,672 words
First lines
"Many of our great men," said I (apropos of many things), "have declared that they owe their success to the aid and encouragement of some brilliant woman."
"I know," said Jeff Peters. "I've read in history and mythology about Joan of Arc and Mme. Yale and Mrs. Caudle and Eve and other noted females of the past. But, in my opinion, the woman of today is of little use in politics or business. What's she best in, anyway? -- men make the best cooks, milliners, nurses, housekeepers, stenographers, clerks, hairdressers and launderers. About the only job left that a woman can beat a man in is female impersonator in vaudeville."
What this Textopian page supports
The Hand that Riles the World is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1914 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: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Humor, Satire, Fiction, Social Commentary
- Length: 2,672 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hand that Riles the World 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 Hand that Riles the World?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- One Consolation by O. Henry
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- Squaring The Circle by O. Henry
- A Startling Demonstration by O. Henry
- Calculations by O. Henry
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story arc within a limited word count.
- Humor — The dialogue and situations are infused with wit and irony, showcasing comedic elements throughout the narrative.
- Satire — The story critiques societal norms and the political landscape, particularly regarding gender roles and the absurdities of ambition.
- Fiction — The narrative is a work of fiction, presenting invented characters and scenarios that reflect real-life themes.
Tags
Short Story Collection · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Realism · Irony · Plot Twist · Moral Lesson · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic