Roads of Destiny by O. Henry

(2 User reviews)   2928
Henry, O., 1862-1910 Henry, O., 1862-1910
English
Hey, have you read 'Roads of Destiny' by O. Henry? It's this wild collection of short stories where every choice feels like a fork in the road. The whole book has this vibe of 'what if?'—like, what if you took the other train, told a different lie, or walked down another street? It’s all about those tiny moments that flip a life upside down. Some stories are funny, some are heartbreaking, but they all have that classic O. Henry twist waiting at the end. If you like stories that make you think about fate and chance, you’ll love this one. It’s a quick, satisfying read that sticks with you.
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6. The number of references to passages has been very largely increased. All words occurring only in poetical texts have been marked. If they occur more than once they bear the sign †, if only once, a reference to the passage is generally given. If not they are marked ‡. As regards prose texts, the rule has been only to give references to particular passages in the case of rare words,--more especially ἅπαξ λεγόμενα. The references to AO, CP and Æ which were given in the earlier edition have been retained, as a useful indication that the word occurs in Early West Saxon or Late West Saxon prose, as the case may be. 7. By various devices it has been found possible, while much increasing the amount of matter in the book, to add very slightly to the number of pages, and at the same time to reduce the number of columns on a page from three to two. Most of these devices are more or less mechanical, but one method of saving space may be mentioned. Certain compound words, descriptive of places, which, as far as I know, occur only in charters and which may often be more correctly regarded as proper nouns, have not been separately inserted. Their meaning can however always be ascertained by referring to their components, and where the abbreviation Mdf is inserted the reader will understand that examples of words so compounded, or of the components, or of both, will be found in Birch’s _Cartularium Saxonicum_, or in Earle’s _Land Charters_, and that references to those examples are given in Middendorff’s _Altenglisches Flurnamenbuch_. 8. In the List of Abbreviations, etc. at the commencement of the book, editions of texts which are furnished with a glossary have been specially indicated. J. R. C. H. _January_, 1916. LIST OF SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS WITH THEIR EXPLANATION _Note_ 1. Where references are in _italic type_, quotations from the texts indicated will be found in the _New English Dictionary_, under the head of the English word which is distinguished in the article by quotation marks (see Preface). In references to special passages volumes have been marked off from pages by an inverted full stop, and lines or verses have been shown, _where they follow other numerals_, by small superior figures. Occasionally where lines have not been given, the mark ´ has been inserted to show that the quotation is in the lower half of a page. _Note_ 2. In the following list the number (1) after an edition of a text indicates that the edition is supplied with a complete referenced glossary or word-index, (2) that it has a complete glossary, but without references and (3) that it has a partial glossary or word-index. _Note_ 3. Some of the abbreviations given below are used in combination. Examples: MtLR = the Lindisfarne and Rushworth MSS of St Matthew; BJPs = the Bosworth and the Junius Psalters; asf. = accusative singular feminine. EK = Early Kentish. ‘ ’ Quotation marks are used to enclose the English words which should be looked up in the _NED_ in order to find etymological information as to, and examples of the use of, the Anglo-Saxon words to which the articles in this Dictionary relate, see Note 1 above. If they enclose Latin words, they indicate the lemmata of Anglo-Saxon words in glosses or glossaries etc., or the Latin equivalent of such words in the Latin texts from which they are translated. The Latin is especially so given when the Ags. word seems to be merely a blindly mechanical and literal equivalent. * is prefixed or...

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O. Henry’s Roads of Destiny isn’t one long story, but a bunch of short ones tied together by a big idea: our lives are shaped by the choices we make, often without realizing it. Each tale is a snapshot of a character at a crossroads. A poet might choose between love and art. A cowboy’s chance encounter changes everything. A simple decision to help a stranger spirals into unexpected consequences. The settings jump from New York tenements to the American West to foreign ports, but the question is always the same: how did I get here?

Why You Should Read It

Here’s the thing about O. Henry—he makes you care fast. His characters feel real in just a few pages. You’re right there with them, sweating over a decision. Then, just when you think you know where the story’s going, he pulls the rug out. That famous 'twist ending' isn’t just a cheap trick; it makes you see the whole story in a new light. It’s like he’s showing you how fragile our plans really are. The stories are short, so you can dip in and out, but they pack an emotional punch that lasts.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who loves a good, clever story with heart. If you’re a fan of twisty tales or just appreciate watching a master storyteller at work, you’ll find a lot to enjoy. It’s also great for busy readers who want something complete in one sitting. Just be ready to look at your own 'roads of destiny' a little differently afterward.



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This digital edition is based on a public domain text. Preserving history for future generations.

Liam King
4 months ago

I stumbled upon this title and it creates a vivid world that you simply do not want to leave. Truly inspiring.

Donald Brown
1 year ago

A bit long but worth it.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (2 User reviews )

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