If you enjoy reading novels by O. Henry then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who enjoy O. Henry’s twist endings and colorful characters should try Mark Twain. Twain’s talent for humor and storytelling shines in his classic novel “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”
This book follows young Tom Sawyer on various escapades in the small Mississippi River town of St. Petersburg. Tom is imaginative and clever, getting himself and his friends into all sorts of funny and sometimes dangerous trouble.
From tricking other boys into painting a fence to witnessing a murder in a graveyard, Tom’s adventures are vivid and engaging. Twain captures childhood mischief with warmth, wit, and sharp social observations that fans of O. Henry will appreciate.
Guy de Maupassant was a master storyteller known for short stories with sharp twists and memorable endings. Fans of O. Henry’s surprise-filled tales might enjoy Maupassant’s captivating narratives and his understanding of human nature.
In the short story “The Necklace,” Maupassant introduces readers to Mathilde Loisel, a young woman dissatisfied with her modest life.
After borrowing a beautiful necklace for an elegant party, she loses it, setting off a series of unfortunate events to replace the costly jewelry. The plot builds steadily to a powerful climax, finishing with a twist readers rarely see coming.
Maupassant crafts realistic characters whose decisions reveal truths about ambition, pride, and consequence.
Edgar Allan Poe is a classic American author known for his intriguing short stories filled with mystery and unexpected twists. Readers who enjoy O. Henry’s surprising endings and clever narrative style will find Poe’s imaginative tales fascinating.
One of his best-known collections, “Tales of Mystery and Imagination,” brings together several famous stories like “The Tell-Tale Heart,” where a narrator’s guilt plays tricks on his mind about the crime he committed.
Poe also created memorable detective fiction; his story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” introduces the detective C. Auguste Dupin, whose sharp observational skills help him solve a strange murder.
Poe’s storytelling combines atmosphere, psychology, and clever twists to keep readers eagerly turning pages.
W.W. Jacobs was an English short-story writer known for sharp wit, clever plot twists, and ironic endings similar to those found in O. Henry’s stories. Jacobs often featured ordinary people caught in extraordinary situations.
His short story “The Monkey’s Paw” is a great example. In it, a family receives a magical monkey’s paw that grants three wishes but soon realizes each wish comes at a heavy price. Suspense builds slowly, and Jacobs leads the characters toward an unforgettable ironic conclusion.
Fans of O. Henry will appreciate Jacobs’ skillful mix of humor, irony, and carefully plotted surprises.
Saki (H.H. Munro) Saki was a British short story writer known for sharp wit, memorable characters, and clever, twist endings. Readers who enjoy O. Henry’s sense of irony and unexpected turns will find Saki equally entertaining.
In his collection “The Chronicles of Clovis,” you meet Clovis Sangrail, a mischievous and clever young man. He often finds himself in situations of polite society that quickly turn comical or absurd.
In one memorable tale, “Tobermory,” a cat learns to speak and casually reveals the secrets of its owners to hilarious and embarrassing effect. Saki’s stories surprise you at every turn with humor, satire, and delightful social commentary.
Readers who enjoy O. Henry’s twist endings and vivid character sketches will appreciate Anton Chekhov’s storytelling. Chekhov was a master of short stories and plays, known for his realistic tales and sharp insights into human behavior.
His collection “The Lady with the Dog and Other Stories” offers profound yet simple narratives about ordinary life. The title story follows Dmitri, a disillusioned banker who meets Anna, a young woman unhappily married, during a seaside vacation.
A casual flirtation turns surprisingly meaningful, changing both of them in unexpected ways. Chekhov’s skill at capturing quiet, sincere emotional changes makes his stories resonate with readers who value thoughtful and subtle storytelling.
Books by Katherine Mansfield often capture everyday moments that suddenly twist into surprising revelations. If you enjoy O. Henry’s short stories, Mansfield’s “The Garden Party and Other Stories” may be something worth exploring.
In this collection, ordinary life situations take unexpected turns, often leading characters to powerful insights or emotional truths. One memorable story, “The Garden Party,” portrays a young woman whose perfect afternoon is disrupted when a tragedy occurs nearby.
Mansfield creates stories that gently reveal life’s ironies and hidden depths, presented without pretension but filled with remarkable clarity.
Stephen Leacock was a Canadian writer famous for his humor, wit, and gentle satire, qualities readers of O. Henry find appealing. One of his popular books is “Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town,” which humorously portrays life in the fictional small town called Mariposa.
Each chapter offers amusing snapshots of townsfolk and their attempts at grand schemes that often backfire.
If you enjoyed O. Henry’s ability to craft warm-hearted stories filled with humor, surprises, and perfectly drawn characters, Stephen Leacock’s charming storytelling might also win you over.
Ring Lardner was an American writer known for his sharp wit and clever storytelling, often compared to O. Henry for his ironic twist endings and relatable characters. If you enjoy O. Henry’s style, try Lardner’s collection “You Know Me Al.”
This book is a series of hilarious letters written by Jack Keefe, a naive, overconfident baseball player who shares his life on and off the field in humorous, sometimes unintentional ways.
The letters reveal Jack’s misunderstandings, silly mistakes, and exaggerated pride in his own abilities. Lardner fills the stories with humor, irony, and believable dialogue, creating a fun read for those who appreciate clever humor and surprising story turns.
Ambrose Bierce was a sharp American writer known for his clever, sometimes dark short stories and satirical wit. Fans of O. Henry who appreciate surprise endings and sharp insights into human nature would enjoy Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.”
This powerful short story involves Peyton Farquhar, a Southern plantation owner set for execution during the Civil War. Facing death, Farquhar experiences a vivid, dreamlike episode full of incredible imagery and psychological twists.
The story’s unexpected ending leaves readers stunned, similar to the clever plot twists that often appear in O. Henry’s fiction.
Edith Wharton was an American author known for her sharp wit and vivid portrayal of early 20th-century society. If you’re a fan of O. Henry’s clever stories and ironic twists, Wharton’s rich storytelling could appeal to you as well.
Her novel “The Age of Innocence” follows Newland Archer, a young lawyer engaged to the respectable May Welland. Archer encounters May’s worldly and unconventional cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, who returns after a scandalous separation from her European husband.
Wharton captures the contrast between personal desire and strict social expectations with a graceful yet incisive style.
The novel takes readers through Archer’s struggle as he ultimately must choose between passion and duty in a society that quietly stifles anything unconventional.
Jack London was an American writer known for vivid storytelling and powerful characters. Readers who enjoy O. Henry’s sharp twists and engaging narratives might appreciate London’s “The Call of the Wild.”
The book tells the story of Buck, a domesticated dog kidnapped from his home and transported to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. Buck must adapt to harsh wilderness conditions and survive struggles for dominance among sled dogs.
As the story unfolds, Buck’s journey from tame pet to wilderness legend forms a thrilling and emotional adventure. Like O. Henry, Jack London takes readers into worlds of struggle and human (and animal) spirit, with rich detail and memorable endings.
Bret Harte was an American author known for stories set in the American West, often with colorful characters and sly, humorous twists reminiscent of O. Henry’s style.
In his collection “The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Stories,” Harte introduces readers to the rough yet endearing residents of a mining community who unexpectedly find their lives changed by the arrival of a newborn baby.
An unlikely tenderness emerges among these tough prospectors and gamblers, resulting in humorous and touching moments. Readers familiar with O. Henry’s wit and warmth will enjoy the clever storytelling and vivid portrayals of frontier life found in Harte’s tales.
E.M. Forster is an author whose stories often explore human nature and relationships with gentle wit and exact observation, qualities readers of O. Henry may appreciate.
In his novel “A Room with a View,” Forster introduces Lucy Honeychurch, a young Englishwoman traveling through Italy under the watchful eyes of her chaperone. Lucy’s orderly, conventional outlook is shaken by unexpected events and a chance encounter with a spirited young man.
Upon her return home, Lucy must confront questions about freedom, society’s expectations, and her own feelings, all handled with humor and subtlety. Readers drawn to O. Henry’s clever twists and insightful portraits of people’s lives might find Forster’s style equally rewarding.
Sherwood Anderson was an American author known for inward-looking stories that explore small-town American life and the secrets people hide beneath ordinary exteriors.
If you enjoyed O. Henry’s sharp insights and unexpected twists, you might appreciate Anderson’s “Winesburg, Ohio.” This collection of interconnected short stories reveals the unspoken dreams and frustrations of a small Midwest town’s people.
Readers encounter memorable characters like Wing Biddlebaum, who struggles with a hidden past, and Elizabeth Willard, a woman yearning for fulfillment. Each story subtly connects, forming a broader portrait of human loneliness and hope.
Anderson’s writing has clarity and emotional honesty that stays with you long after finishing the book.