Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few passages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.

In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?

The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors, whether of instant recognition or new to you, are all leviathans of literature.

Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking - about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.

O Henry is perhaps the master of the American short story across his 600 works. Slices of life, vignettes of narrative are told with verve and poise and words that simply flow as he wanders through society revealing characters and stories of instant appeal.

01 - The Top 10 - O Henry - An Introduction

02 - O Henry - An Introduction

03 - The Gift of the Magi by O Henry

04 - After Twenty Years by O Henry

05 - Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen by O Henry

06 - The Furnished Room by O Henry

07 - The Last Leaf by O Henry

08 - The Ransom of Red Chief by O Henry

09 - Springtime A La Carte by O Henry

10 - The Social Triangle by O Henry

11 - Witch's Loaves by O Henry

12 - A Harlem Tragedy by O Henry