
Sixes and Sevens (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Witty Urban Tales of Turn-of-the-Century New York, Unexpected Twists, Romance, and the Struggle Between Fate and Free WillBy O. HenryLength7h 16m
About this audiobook
Published posthumously in 1920, *Sixes and Sevens* gathers thirty-five stories by O. Henry, the pen name of William Sydney Porter, and displays the range of the author's celebrated short fiction. Its narratives move through New York apartments, theatrical circles, the American West, and other socially varied settings, where coincidence, disguise, economic hardship, and romantic hope shape the plots. Characterized by colloquial dialogue, brisk pacing, vivid local color, and the "surprise ending" for which O. Henry is renowned, the collection also reveals a more humane and psychologically observant writer: beneath the reversals lies sustained attention to dignity, loneliness, generosity, and the precarious lives of ordinary people. It belongs to the formative tradition of modern American popular short fiction, balancing journalistic immediacy with sentimental and comic invention. O. Henry's experience as a bank clerk, journalist, fugitive, and imprisoned writer profoundly informed this imaginative world. His years in Austin and New York supplied contrasting social landscapes, while his encounters with financial insecurity and institutional authority sharpened his sympathy for outsiders, workers, and improvised communities. The posthumous arrangement of *Sixes and Sevens* preserves the breadth of a career cut short in 1910, allowing readers to see both his familiar artistry and his continuing experimentation with voice, setting, and narrative structure. This volume is especially recommended to readers interested in the development of the American short story and in the relationship between popular entertainment and literary craft. It offers accessible pleasure, but also rewards close study of urban modernity, class, sentiment, and the ethics of unexpected human connection.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.0 (1.8K)
Includes Goodreads, LibraryThing, StoryGraph, Amazon
GenreGeneral Fiction, Literary Classics
Length7 hrs 16 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateSep 16, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Sixes and Sevens (Annotated)
26XI
2Introduction
27JIMMY HAYES AND MURIEL
3Author Biography
28XII
4Historical Context
29THE DOOR OF UNREST
5Synopsis (Selection)
30XIII
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6I
31THE DUPLICITY OF HARGRAVES
7THE LAST OF THE TROUBADOURS
32XIV
8II
33LET ME FEEL YOUR PULSE
9THE SLEUTHS
34XV
10III
35OCTOBER AND JUNE
11WITCHES' LOAVES
36XVI
12IV
37THE CHURCH WITH AN OVERSHOT-WHEEL
13THE PRIDE OF THE CITIES
38XVII
14V
39NEW YORK BY CAMP FIRE LIGHT
15HOLDING UP A TRAIN
40XVIII
16VI
41THE ADVENTURES OF SHAMROCK JOLNES
17ULYSSES AND THE DOGMAN
42XIX
18VII
43THE LADY HIGHER UP
19THE CHAMPION OF THE WEATHER
44XX
20VIII
45THE GREATER CONEY
21MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN
46XXI
22IX
47LAW AND ORDER
23AT ARMS WITH MORPHEUS
48XXII
24X
49TRANSFORMATION OF MARTIN BURNEY
25A GHOST OF A CHANCE
50XXIII