Jimmy Valentine

I just read O. Henry's A Retrieved Reformation and both the story and the writer were new to me. I then found out that O. Henry is the master of the "surprise ending" short shory and he seems to have written a big number of them.

A Retrieved Reformation is the story of Jimmy Valentine, a famous safe robber who is released from jail after ten months out of a 4 year conviction. Jimmy is the best of his trade and has many friends outside. As soon as Jimmy leaves jail, he goes back to work, successfully as always. An then the nice part begins. Jimmy goes to Elmore, Arkansas and he falls in love with a girl he sees on the street. Because of her, Jimmy settles in Elmore as a shoe seller and manages to become engaged to the girl, who happens to be the daughter of the local banker. Jimmy Valentine is truly reformed and wishes to leave his old life of crime for the love of his sweetheart. But then there is Ben Price, an investigator who follows Jimmy to Elmore and his ready to take him in when a surprise episode takes place. One of the nieces of Jimmy's bride locks herself in the bank safe and the family is terrified as help would take to long to arrive. Jimmy decides to make use of his old trade know-how, not fearing to be recognised for something more than a shoe seller, and saves the little girl. Ben Price, who had been a witness to the whole scene, decides to let Jimmy go free and live his new life as a fully "restored" man.

That is the story, very simple, educational, good feeling ending and what you see is what you get. It is a good story for TV, or for the stage, and that is exactly what is was for. O. Henry's stories have been used widely in the movies and, strangely enough, this one has been a Russian favourite! This story has also been a favourite in middle school English classes and there are lots of resources about it (self-test here!). It seems to be too much ado about something but then we find out that Jimmy Valentine existed in fact, child # 5 of Levy Morgan, a wanderer and an adventurer. A good old time real west story. And I love those.

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