Easily one of the most prolific storytellers of the early 20th century American literary scene, William Sydney Porter published under various pseudonyms–the most famous being that of O. Henry, by which he is today remembered. Early in his life, Porter took an interest in literature and subsequently began writing for various newspapers. After getting himself into financial trouble with the law, Porter attempted to flee the country in 1897 to avoid sanctioning, but ultimately returned the following year and resigned himself to a prison sentence. It was there that he began anonymously writing stories under pen names, and one of the most iconic literary names of the era was born.

The consistency and quantity of Porter’s output following his early release from prison in 1901 was nothing short of outstanding. Among his hundreds of published stories during this period were his weekly offerings found in the New York World on a consistent basis for more than a year. In 1905, a tale of sacrifice in times of financial hardship entitled The Gift of the Magi was published, becoming one of his most memorable short stories.

Of a similar era, a certain John Griffith Chaney has also had a widespread influence in American literature surrounding the turn of the 20th century. He is much better known as Jack London, a pseudonym he adopted in part from his stepfather, John London. London was among the first American novelists to accumulate a substantial wealth from his book sales.

Many of London’s stories were based in the frigid regions of Alaska and the Yukon, where he spent some time during the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s. Among his most popular works was The Call of the Wild, a novel primarily centered in this very region. He also published a memorable short story about survival in these harsh Canadian climates entitled To Build a Fire, an exhilarating tale following a foolish, simple-minded man and his canine companion as they journey amidst extremely perilous temperatures, ultimately leading to the man’s downfall.

Finally, Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was a third writer of note during the same period of literary development in America. He is among the few veterans of the Civil war who ultimately became famous for literary ventures beyond the battlefield. His fame extended both into journalism as well as storytelling. His disappearance in Mexico in 1914 was among the most mysterious in the history of American literature; his fate remains disputed to this day.

Bierce’s pessimistic worldview and universal skepticism were apparent throughout his publications–in particular The Devil’s Dictionary, for which he is widely remembered. Published in its complete form in 1911, this book contains a satirical collection of cynical and often sarcastic definitions crafted by Bierce covering a variety of words in the English language. Like Mark Twain, Bierce was most certainly a humorist; however, the latter lacked the subtlety that had contributed to the widespread popularity of the former.

In my opinion, all three of these authors possess their own unique merits which justify reading their respective works solely for leisure. I myself have read in academic context Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, The Cop and the Anthem, and The Last Leaf, London’s To Build a Fire, and excerpts of Bierce’s Devil’s Dictionary. With these as my basis, I would conclude that of the three authors, I was most captivated by London’s brief yet gripping account of the unnamed man’s battle with nature. I would be interested to explore further literature by London as I found his means of adventurous depiction to be straight to the point yet no less fascinating.🔹