The Voice of the City by O. Henry
A young woman's life is transformed when she inherits a large sum of money from a distant relative and moves to the city, where she becomes embroiled in a complex web of relationships with various characters, including a wealthy businessman and a poor but charming artist.
By O. Henry · First published 1908 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Short Story, Social Commentary · 2,233 words
First lines
Twenty-five years ago the school children used to chant their lessons. The manner of their delivery was a singsong recitative between the utterance of an Episcopal minister and the drone of a tired sawmill. I mean no disrespect. We must have lumber and sawdust.
I remember one beautiful and instructive little lyric that emanated from the physiology class. The most striking line of it was this:
What this Textopian page supports
The Voice of the City 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: Literary Fiction, Short Story, Social Commentary, Humor, Romance
- Length: 2,233 words
- Structure: 1 section, 46 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Voice of the City 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 Voice of the City?
- 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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- The Greater Coney by O. Henry
- The Poet And The Peasant by O. Henry
- The Sparrows In Madison Square by O. Henry
- Transformation Of Martin Burney by O. Henry
- The Tale Of A Tainted Tenner by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of urban identity and human experience through a narrative style that emphasizes character introspection and social commentary.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and structured as a short story, focusing on a singular theme and character interactions.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques and reflects on the nature of urban life and the collective voice of a city, highlighting societal dynamics.
- Humor — The writing employs wit and irony, particularly in dialogue, to convey deeper truths about city life.
Tags
Short Story Collection · American Literature · Urban Fiction · Social Commentary · Realism · Humor · Satire · Poverty · Class Struggle · City Life · Immigration · Ethnicity