Works by O. Henry in the Literary-Critical Review of K.I. Chukovsky

Abstract

The article is devoted to K.I. Chukovsky’s specifics of perception of works by O. Henry (1862-1910). The view of K.I. Chukovsky significantly differed from the prevailing opinion about O. Henry as the successor of Jack London’s traditions at the beginning of the 20th century. K.I. Chukovsky called the book “Four Million” (1906) the «pamphlet of American democracy», which proclaimed not only the unity of the inhabitants of New York, but also the unity of the people of the whole planet. At the end of his career, O. Henry was freed from the role of «master of well-made stories», approaching to new creative borders.

Keywords

• k.i. chukovsky
• o. henry
• international literary relations
• democratic ideals
• humanistic pathos