William Sydney Porter known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short story writer. His wit and plot twists were adored by his readers, but often panned by the critics. Collected Short Stories contain several short stories from a "Cabbages and Kings" series. In Coralio - a sultry coastal town in the volatile banana republic of Anchuria - a disparate cast of vagabonds, mercenaries and consuls is busy plotting, scamming, drinking, loving or trying to forget the past. Each has his own tale to tell and his own particular reason for washing up on these tropical shores.