Cabbages and Kings [Paperback]

O. Henry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2007

They will tell you in Anchuria, that President Miraflores, of that volatile republic, died by his own hand in the coast town of Coralio; that he had reached thus far in flight from the inconveniences of an imminent revolution; and that one hundred thousan

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

Those with fond sentiment for O. Henry's short stories should understand why this is his only novel. Although there are some trademark plot twists and well-crafted character sketches, the effect is muted by the rambling, cobbled together style. These loosely related tales of scamps and underdogs in an unstable Central American republic contain some clever images, as well as some dated, derogatory language. Lloyd James navigates this murky area admirably, de-emphasizing the crude name-calling by voicing it largely without malice. He simply speaks the vernacular as naturally as he creates the characters' accents. James's agile pacing and overall breezy approach work favorably on this insubstantial material. D.J. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: 1st World Library - Literary Society (April 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142183992X
• ISBN-13: 978-1421839929
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,683,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm glad O Henry escaped prison, December 11, 1998

By 

Fernando Po' Boy (Grand Forks, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cabbages and Kings (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics) (Paperback)

I am glad O Henry escaped from his Texas prison, because his period of exile in Honduras provided him with beautiful fodder for this book. Actually, it is a series of linking vignettes about a mythical town (Coralio) in the mythical Central American "Banana Republic" of Anchuria. The protagonists are American and other foreign misfits who have formed a colony along the disease ridden coast of Anchuria. Achingly funny stories populate Cabbages and Kings, especially the one about an Irish Soldier of Fortune who gets swindled by a Guatemalan general and seeks revenge. Although extremely humourous, Cabbages and Kings is historically valuable as well. It provides an accurate representation of turn-of-the-century life in Caribbean Honduras.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Turn of the Century Parlor Book, June 25, 2009

By 

Jacqueline R. St John "Serendipppppppppppity" (Boulder Junction WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cabbages and Kings (Hardcover)

This book was written in the era prior to mass media forms such as TV, Radio, etc.were widely available. The parlor book, or porch book was used by the family as entertainment and the reader best able to read out loud would be the evening or afternoon's source of entertainment. The style of writing was captivating, and the stories gripping and often sensational with unexpected outcomes that really suprpised their audiences. This book having several stories in it was a real deal. The Mother in the house that could afford books and could read them was the " TV" of that era and read to her children at bedtime, thus the origin of the child's bedtime story which continues even now.

3 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars nothing to do with Honduras, June 2, 2008

By 

Michael Chesser (AIKEN, SC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cabbages and Kings (Paperback)

I looked it up on Wiki, and O. Henry spent at the most 6 months in Honduras, probably less. There is no evidence he spoke Spanish. So unless he were a prodigy of some sort, he would not be expected to learn or experience much of the real country during his short stay. And this book bears this out. There is nothing of Honduras in this book. It is unfortunate that the reader might conclude that the book arises out of some actual knowledge or experience of the country, or sympathy with its people, because that is decidedly not the case. And the author butchers what spanish he attempts. For that matter, the author's english is often absurd. Didn't Graham Greene's travels to Mexico result in works of enduring value? It's a pity the same can't be said of O'Henry in Honduras.