William Sydney Porter has been recognized among the greatest American authors due to his remarkable life story and outstanding literary reputation. His life and experiences contributed immensely to his eventual career as an author, and the stories he wrote. Porter, who wrote under the pseudonym O. Henry, published nearly 200 short stories that drew the attention of the American public. A writer of unique skill and atypical mindset, O. Henry left a significant impact on American literature; especially through the new dimensions he added to the short story genre, the timeless popularity of his works, and his inspiring rise to fame.

Before the phenomena of O. Henry had dawned onto the literary world, William Sydney Porter led a frenzied life. It is these unforgettable experiences, which made his work so unique and bewildering (Current-Garcia 12). William's mother died when he was still young, and his father developed a serious problem...