The Four Million vs Van Bibber and Others: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: American literature, Social life and customs, Short Stories, Fiction
The Four Million
“TOBIN and me, the two of us, went down to Coney one day, for there was four dollars between us, and Tobin had need of distractions.”
More
The Four Million is the second published collection of short stories by O. Henry originally released in 1906. There are twenty five stories of various lengths including several of his best known works such as "The Gift…
Van Bibber and Others
“IT was at the end of the first act of the first night of "The Sultana," and every member of the Lester Comic Opera Company, from Lester himself down to the wardrobe woman's son, who would have had to work if his mother lost her place, was sick with anxiety.”
More
In "Van Bibber and Others," Richard Harding Davis crafts a collection of short stories that encapsulate the spirited social dynamics of the turn of the 20th century. With his characteristic wit and keen observational…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Four Million has the widest readership — 927 ratings behind its score.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.
Scores by source
| The Four Million | Van Bibber and Others | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 4.0 (927) | 4.1 (7) |
| Hardcover | 4.0 (3) | — |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (27) | — |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Reception
| The Four Million | Van Bibber and Others | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 927 | 7 |
| Editions | 61 | 40 |
| Citations | 11 | — |
| Film adaptations | 1 | — |
| Want to read | 1185 | 9 |
| Reading it now | 331 | — |
| Written reviews | 111 | 4 |
| Wikipedia attention | 445 | — |
| Pages | 225 | 249 |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: The Four Million or Van Bibber and Others?
The Four Million has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The Four Million 4.0/5, Van Bibber and Others 3.9/5).
Which is shorter to read: The Four Million or Van Bibber and Others?
The Four Million is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: The Four Million (225 pages, ≈ 4 h 10 m); Van Bibber and Others (249 pages, ≈ 4 h 37 m).
Which is harder to read: The Four Million or Van Bibber and Others?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — The Four Million: Challenging; Van Bibber and Others: Challenging.