Roads of Destiny (1909) is a collection of short stories by American
writer O. Henry. Inspired by his experiences as a fugitive and in
prison, these stories address themes of crime, poverty, and fate. "A
Retrieved Reformation," perhaps the most notable of the collection's
twenty-two stories, is semi-autobiographical in that it explores the
life of a criminal and fugitive who maintains a moral identity while
struggling to adjust to life outside of prison. "Roads of Destiny" is
the story of a French poet and shepherd named David Mignot. After
fighting with his lover Yvonne, he decides to leave his home village of
Vernoy in search of fame and adventure. The dreamlike narrative follows
him down three paths: one takes him to the home of a wealthy Marquis,
where he falls in love with his young daughter; the next leads him to
the halls of the king, where he is recruited to act as a body double
during a visit to the nearby cathedral; the final one finds him turning
back toward home, where he struggles to balance a life of marriage with
his poetic calling. In "A Retrieved Reformation," a safecracker named
Jimmy Valentine attempts to lead a quiet life following his release from
prison. Using an assumed identity, he settles in Arkansas, where he
marries the beautiful daughter of a local banker. Despite his best
efforts, however, his criminal past threatens to resurface at every
turn. Roads of Destiny is a collection of stories exploring themes of
fate and identity by an icon of American literature. With a beautifully
designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of O.
Henry's Roads of Destiny is a classic of American literature
reimagined for modern readers.
