The Voice of the City (short story collection, Henry)

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The Voice of the City
1908
Summary of the Collection of Short Stories
Microsummary: A collection of short stories set in early 1900s New York City, exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and irony through the lives of everyday people, often with unexpected twists and poignant endings.

The Voice of the City

The Voice of the City (Henry)

A man searched for the voice of the city, asking various people for their opinions, but ultimately found the answer in the silent connection he shared with a woman he loved.

The Complete Life of John Hopkins

The Complete Life of John Hopkins (Henry)

A man got into a fight with a cigar store owner, was rescued by a chauffeur, and was asked by a lady to confront a man who insulted her, only to be thrown out.

A Lickpenny Lover

A Lickpenny Lover (Henry)

A wealthy man fell in love with a beautiful shopgirl and proposed marriage, offering her a life of luxury and travel, but she rejected him, thinking his promises were too good to be true.

Dougherty's Eye-Opener

Dougherty's Eye-Opener (Henry)

A man took his wife out for a rare dinner, where she charmed everyone with her wit and beauty, making him realize he had neglected her for years and prompting him to change his ways.

Little Speck in Garnered Fruit

Little Speck in Garnered Fruit (Henry)

A newlywed bride asked her husband, a champion welter-weight, for a peach, and he went on a challenging quest to find one in the city during winter, ultimately succeeding.

The Harbinger

The Harbinger (Henry)

A lazy man tried various tactics to get a dollar from his hardworking wife, eventually resorting to fake affection, which surprisingly worked, but not in the way he expected.

While the Auto Waits

While the Auto Waits (Henry)

A wealthy girl, tired of her luxurious life, befriends a young man in a park, pretending to be a cashier in a restaurant, only to reveal her true identity at the end.

A Comedy in Rubber

A Comedy in Rubber (Henry)

Two people obsessed with watching accidents and unusual events fall in love, but their habit causes them to miss their own wedding as they join the crowd of onlookers outside the church.

One Thousand Dollars

One Thousand Dollars (Henry)

A young man was left a thousand dollars by his late uncle and had to account for its expenditure, but after spending it wisely, he forfeited a larger inheritance to protect the woman he loved.

The Defeat of the City

The Defeat of the City (Henry)

A successful city lawyer returned to his rural roots with his high-society wife, rediscovering his true self and reconnecting with his family, while his wife surprisingly embraced the simpler life.

The Shocks of Doom

The Shocks of Doom (Henry)

A disinherited man spent a night in a park with a vagrant who feared he would die before inheriting a fortune the next day, only to find out the inheritance was withdrawn.

The Plutonian Fire

The Plutonian Fire (Henry)

A struggling writer discovered that he could only create a successful love story after experiencing love and heartbreak, but ultimately chose to abandon his writing career for a simpler life.

Nemesis and the Candy Man

Nemesis and the Candy Man (Henry)

A beautiful woman tried to charm a candy man, who initially resisted her advances, but eventually fell for her. Meanwhile, she received news of her true love's departure, leaving her heartbroken.

Squaring the Circle

Squaring the Circle (Henry)

Two men from feuding families in the mountains unexpectedly met in a big city, where the overwhelming urban environment led them to reconcile and shake hands.

Roses, Ruses and Romance

Roses, Ruses and Romance (Henry)

A poet, believing romance is dead, discovers a beautiful woman in a neighboring garden and thinks she's sending him romantic messages through flowers, only to find out she's engaged to his friend.

The City of Dreadful Night

The City of Dreadful Night (Henry)

During a heatwave, residents of an apartment building were forced to sleep in a park, leading to discomfort, confusion, and unexpected connections among the diverse group of tenants.

The Easter of the Soul

The Easter of the Soul (Henry)

A man experienced a spiritual awakening on Easter Sunday, leading him to reevaluate his life and find a renewed sense of purpose.

The Fool-Killer

The Fool-Killer (Henry)

A mysterious figure known as the Fool-Killer sought out those who acted foolishly, ultimately teaching them valuable lessons about the consequences of their actions.

Transients in Arcadia

Transients in Arcadia (Henry)

A group of strangers found themselves in a utopian paradise, only to discover that their idyllic existence was not as perfect as it seemed.

The Rathskeller and the Rose

The Rathskeller and the Rose (Henry)

A man and a woman shared a romantic evening at a rathskeller, only to find that their love was not meant to be.

The Clarion Call

The Clarion Call (Henry)

A police officer faced a moral dilemma when he was tasked with arresting a childhood friend, ultimately choosing to uphold the law and his duty to the city.

Extradited from Bohemia

Extradited from Bohemia (Henry)

A group of bohemian artists found themselves at odds with the mainstream society, ultimately learning the importance of staying true to their creative passions.

A Philistine in Bohemia

A Philistine in Bohemia (Henry)

A man who rejected the bohemian lifestyle found himself drawn into its world, ultimately discovering the value of artistic expression and the importance of following one's own path.

From Each According to His Ability

From Each According to His Ability (Henry)

A community of people lived by the principle of giving according to their abilities, ultimately learning the importance of cooperation and the value of individual contributions.

The Memento

The Memento (Henry)

A woman received a mysterious memento from a past love, leading her on a journey of self-discovery and a renewed appreciation for the power of memory.