O. Henry is celebrated for his witty narration, warm humor, and—most famously—his surprise endings, a technique so distinctive that it became known as the "O. Henry twist." His stories often portray ordinary people—clerks, shopgirls, and drifters—with compassion and irony, vividly capturing everyday life in New York City at the turn of the twentieth century.
Remarkably prolific, he wrote nearly 400 short stories during his career. His major works include the timeless Christmas tale "The Gift of the Magi," as well as "The Last Leaf," "The Cop and the Anthem," "The Ransom of Red Chief," and "After Twenty Years." His notable collections include Cabbages and Kings (1904), The Four Million (1906), and The Trimmed Lamp (1907). O. Henry's legacy endures today, immortalized through the annual O. Henry Prize, which honors outstanding achievements in short fiction.