The Ransom of Red Chief

The Ransom of Red Chief, short story by O. Henry, published in the collection Whirligigs in 1910. In the story, two kidnappers make off with the young son of a prominent man only to find that the child is more trouble than he is worth; in the end, they agree to pay the boy’s father to take him back. This highly popular story reflects the influences of Mark Twain and Ambrose Bierce.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.

Citation Information

Article Title: The Ransom of Red Chief

Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica

Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

Date Published: 22 January 2015

URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Ransom-of-Red-Chief

Access Date: March 14, 2025