Options

by O. Henry (1862–1910)

• Free to read
• 4 hours to read
• 12 chapters
• Reading level: 6th grade

"Options" by O. Henry is a collection of short stories written during the late 19th century. The stories reflect O. Henry's signature style of wit and surprise endings, often exploring themes of love, chance, and the quirks of human nature, with a variety of characters, including a magazine editor Colonel Aquila Telfair and a struggling artist named Hetty Pepper. The opening of "Options" introduces readers to Colonel Aquila Telfair, who has been appointed as the editor of a new Southern magazine, "The Rose of Dixie." The scene is set in a grand library where Telfair graciously accepts the role, despite its challenges, including creating a publication that resonates with Southern pride amid economic struggles. As he assembles his editorial team, filled with quirky and historically-connected characters, the dynamics of editorial decision-making come to play, foreshadowing the encounters with a Northern circulation booster, Mr. Thacker, who challenges the Colonel’s traditionalist views. This opening sets a humorous and engaging tone for the collection, suggesting that it will explore different aspects of societal norms and personal ambitions through clever storytelling.

• Fiction
• Short stories, American