The Ransom of Red Chief, O. Henry
The Ransom of Red Chief, O. Henry
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The Ransom of Red Chief

Author: O. Henry

Narrator: Bryan Nyman

Unabridged: 23 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/07/2018

Synopsis

Petty criminals Bill and Sam decide to kidnap 10-year-old Johnny for ransom money from his wealthy father. The plan turns on its head, however, when Johnny “Red Chief” Dorset decides he likes his captors better than his father. Their plan for ransom quickly turns into a desperate attempt to be rid of the boy, whose father seems relieved rather than worried that he’s missing. This entertaining short story is a perfect example of poetic justice and hijinks gone wrong.

About O. Henry

O. Henry, the pseudonym of William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), was a prolific American short story writer, a master of surprise endings, who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City. A twist of plot, which turns on an ironic or coincidental circumstance, is typical of his stories. During his lifetime, O. Henry published over six hundred stories and ten collections, including Cabbages and Kings, The Four Million, The Trimmed Lamp, Whirligigs, and The Heart of the West.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sandra on August 28, 2020

Two men kidnap a wealthy man’s little boy for ransom. But things don’t turn out as well as they expected it too. A very funny short story! I thoroughly enjoyed it!......more

Goodreads review by Thibault on December 06, 2023

Two criminals kidnap a wealthy man’s son to demand a ransom. Unfortunately, the kid they kidnapped is so spoiled, mischievous and hyperactive, he drives them both mad. A classic short story with a really satisfying and hilarious twist at the end. I actually watched the Haley Joel Osment movie years a......more

Goodreads review by PamG on August 25, 2020

THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF by O. Henry is one of many short stories written by Henry. This one was first published in 1907 and the humor still comes through in 2020. When two men need money for a fraudulent scheme, they decide to kidnap the only child of Ebenezer Dorset and hold him for ransom. What th......more

Goodreads review by Charles on December 09, 2019

Classic, funny stuff I read this with our 11 year old for the accelerated reader program at her school. Must be dozens of times now that I have read this engaging story by America's premier author of short stories. If you don't find this story funny or at least amusing, you either have a very strange......more

Goodreads review by Candi on March 15, 2017

3.5 stars......more

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