O.Henry was an early 20th Century American short-story writer whose tales romanticized the commonplace; in particular the life of ordinary people in New York City. His stories expressed the effect of coincidence on character through humour, grim or ironic, and often had surprise endings, a device that became identified with his name. (Britannica) In his time O. Henry became the acknowledged master of the short story form, acclaimed by his readers, and the four stories here are charming, witty and shrewed in their observation. 'A Cosmopolitan in a Cafe', 'The Cop and the Anthem', 'The Last Leaf’, and 'A Technical Error'. O. Henry has had many imitators, but few equals. Bostonian actor Ed Bishop reads with great understanding and sensitivity. Credits: cover photo courtesy of Wiki Commons