The Complete Writings of O Henry

14 volumes. Cabbages and Kings x+266 pages with frontispiece, 3 illustrations and signed by the publisher and illustrator; The Four Million x+225 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; The Trimmed Lamp by viii+244 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; Heart of the West viii+323 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; The Voice of the City viii+228 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; The Gentle Grafter iv+180 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; Roads of Destiny ix+402 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; Options iv+261 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; Strictly Business viii+300 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; Whirligigs viii+321 pages with 3 illustrations; Sixes and Sevens viii+267 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; Rolling Stones xx+289 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; Wind of Destiny iv+111 pages with frontispiece and 3 illustrations; Waifs and Strays viii+308 pages with frontispiece, 3 illustrations and index. Royal octavo (9 1/4" x 6 1/4") bound in original publisher's half Vellum-backed matte blue paper-covered boards with spines stamped in gilt Top edges of text blocks trimmed and gilt in blue cloth dust jackets, spine panes stamped in gilt. Memorial Edition; Edition de Luxe, limited to 1,075 numbered copies, of which this is 533. Signed by the publisher and illustrator.

An extremely popular and prolific writer, O Henry is noted for his sentimental, semi-realistic stories dealing with the lives of modest people and his mastery of the surprise ending. A North Carolinian by birth, Porter moved to Texas, where he became the editor and publisher of the humorous magazine The Rolling Stone. When he was charged with embezzling funds from a bank, he fled to Central America, subsequently the scene of Cabbages and Kings (1904). He later returned and, although there has been much debate over his actual guilt, served over three years in the federal penitentiary. While in prison, he published the first of his O Henry stories-Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking (1899). Stories he heard in prison were the germs of many of his narratives. But his work is most identified with New York City, which he liked to call 'Baghdad-on-the-Subway.'

Condition:

Cream cloth toned; boards somewhat worn at edges, particularly at ends of spine. Dust jackets mildly soiled, discolored with some spot staining, most noticeable at spine panel of tenth volume; some fraying at spine ends. Free end-papers toned from exposure to dust jacket flaps. Ungilt edges of text block mildly toned, numerous gatherings roughly opened. Occasional thumb soiling scattered throughout interior of text block. Very good. Fourth and sixth volume completely unopened; eighth through eleventh mostly unopened; seventh and twelfth through fourteenth partially opened; first through third and fifth volumes opened but for the last two to four leaves else a better than very good set in like jacket. Due to the size and/or weight of this lot extra shipping and/or handling charges may apply.