The City of Dreadful Night

This humorous tale by O. Henry tells the story of the residents of Beersheba Flats, an apartment building in New York. When a sudden heatwave strikes, the city authorities order everyone to leave their homes and sleep in Central Park to escape the unbearable heat. Families from different backgrounds, including the O’Dowds, Steinowitzes, Callahans, Cohens, and Spizzinellis, are herded together in the dark night, carrying odd belongings like garlic, quilts, and canoes. What happens when strangers are forced to share blankets, bump into each other in the dark, and mistake noses to tell friend from foe? How do they cope with mosquitoes, ants, and sleepless children? And what shocking decision does the landlord of Beersheba Flats make after watching his tenants sleep under the trees? Read this witty tale to discover how city life, human nature, and irony collide.