With approximately 230 short stories published in the magazine, John O'Hara is often called the progenitor of The New Yorker short story style. Many of O'Hara's stories were set in Gibbsville, PA, a fictionalized version of his hometown of Pottsville, with the major theme of his writing being social class. Much of his literary reputation comes from his short stories, although O'Hara was as highly acclaimed for his first novel, Appointment in Samarra.