- Year Published: 1907.
- Pages: 28.
The Last Leaf Summary
O. Henry has never failed to take the most obscure characters in his novel and put them on a lofty, moral pedestal that brings an unexpected twist to his stories of the sagas of life. The last leaf is another such classic that brings out his eye for the ignoble things like a failed artist, and a simple leaf that unknowingly makes a world of difference in the lives of people. The story never fails to extract a tear from the reader, and leave a lasting lesson for those who tread down the failures, and the common things of life. The last leaf summary is presented here concisely for a look at 3 such common characters, the likes of whom, many would not even know exist.
The story is set in a village called Greenwich, in New York. The mazes of winding streets are so confusing that sometimes people take a full circle but still don’t reach their destination. However; because it is affordable, and has some amazing Dutch architecture to practice their skills on, many artists make this place their home.Johnsy and Sue, two such young, aspiring artists, friends, and companions in their journey to find a niche in a competitive world, move here and find an apartment to live. They live happily, working, sharing, and caring for each other as sisters would. One day in November, winter sets in, and so does Pneumonia. With limited medical facilities and cramped quarters, it spread like an epidemic.
Unfortunately, Johnsy falls prey to it and ends up lying feverish and despondent in bed. Her dreams seem to fall apart in front