Christopher Lloyd
Sam Howard
Search results
"The Ransom of Red Chief" is a short story by O. Henry first published in the July 6, 1907 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. It follows two men who kidnap and demand a ransom for a wealthy man's son. Eventually, the men are overwhelmed by the boy's spoiled and hyperactive behavior, so they pay his father to take him back.
- O. Henry
- 1907
The Ransom of Red Chief is a fine example of O. Henry's use of irony. First published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1902. Bill and Sam sure didn't anticipate the lesson they learned, "Crime sure doesn't pay!" In fact, it'll cost you plenty. It looked like a good thing: but wait till I tell you.
The Ransom of Red Chief, short story by O. Henry, published in the collection Whirligigs in 1910. In the story, two kidnappers make off with the young son of a prominent man only to find that the child is more trouble than he is worth; in the end, they agree to pay the boy’s father to take him back.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
A plot summary of O. Henry's short story about two criminals who kidnap a troublesome boy and try to extort ransom from his father. Learn about the literary devices, themes, characters and quotes of this classic tale of comedy and irony.
A humorous short story by O. Henry about two men who kidnap a boy for ransom and end up regretting it. The boy, Johnny, is a red-haired troublemaker who turns the tables on his captors and makes them pay for their crime.
LitCharts offers a comprehensive guide to O. Henry's short story The Ransom of Red Chief, with plot summary, analysis, themes, quotes, characters, and more. Learn about the historical and literary context, the author's biography, and the story's key facts.
A comical story by O. Henry about two men who kidnap a naughty boy and demand ransom from his wealthy father. The boy enjoys being a kidnapper and causes trouble for the kidnappers, who regret their plan and try to return him.
