Austin, Texas story
The Master of the Twist Ending
Long before he was known to the world as the master of the literary twist ending, William Sydney Porter was just another young man trying to make his way in Austin. Between 1893 a…
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Long before he was known to the world as the master of the literary twist ending, William Sydney Porter was just another young man trying to make his way in Austin. Between 1893 and 1895, Porter lived in a modest home that now stands at Brush Square, having been carefully moved from its original spot on East Fourth Street. It was during his years in Austin that Porter penned his earliest short stories, eventually adopting his famous pen name, O.
Henry. He would go on to write world-famous classics like "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Ransom of Red Chief." Today, his restored residence is a museum dedicated to preserving his literary legacy, and it even hosts the annual O. Henry Pun-Off, a spoken pun competition.
Look around as you walk, and think of the clever wordplay and surprise endings that were born right here in the heart of Texas.
Updated June 2026