Product Description

One dollar and eighty-seven cents.
That was all. And sixty cents of it was in
pennies.... Three times Della counted it.
One dollar and eighty-seven cents.
And the next day would be Christmas.
In the beloved title story of this handsome collection, a man and woman each long to bring home just the right gift for the other. But with so little money, how can there be hope? The poignant twists and heartwarming conclusion of this perfect plum of a story help explain the lasting appeal of this most American of authors.Writing under the famous pseudonym 0. Henry, William Sydney Porter breathed life into characters, creating moments that touch readers with their sensitivity and humanity. He portrayed lovelorn cowboys and headstrong urbanites with the same authentic touch, using sympathy, irony, and the wit for which he is justly famous.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #662775 in Books
• Published on: 1997-09-26
• Released on: 1997-09-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

About the Author
The illustrated volume of The Gift of the Magi, contains 0. Henry's finest work, including the hilarious Ransom of Red Chief, in which a small boy tortures his kidnappers until the criminals are reduced to begging his parents to take him back. Michael Dooling's fifteen lush color plates capture the heart of each story with a blend of realism, sentiment, and humor. Longtime admirers of 0. Henry, as well as those who have yet to experience the pleasure of reading this master of the short story, will be enchanted by this wonderful collection.

Customer Reviews

All the original style of O. Henry with lovely illustrations
Although the original feel of O. Henry stories is maintained in this book (the dialogue, the solid values and homespun wisdom), the illustratons in this book really make it a stand-out. They are full of warmth, rich colors and just a delight in and of themselves, perfectly complimenting the text. There are no shortage of O. Henry collections out there, but this has to be one of the best ,especially for teen to young adult readers.

Wow, Who Knew???!!!
Honestly, I wasn't really too enthused when I found out that my 7th grade reading comprehension class would be reading this book. My thoughts? O'Henry. Classics. Ugh.
I ended up loving each and every story included in this book. You have to get into these stories, but the surprising endings are really something to look forward to. Some stories move you, some put a smile on your face, and some just make you go "ooooooooooooooooooooh" if you get it. This book is definitely worth your time, no matter how little of it you have:)!

Nice little stories.
"The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories" has a nice variety of stories. I have the 1997 edition, which includes the stories "The Gift of the Magi," "The Last Leaf," "Springtime a la Carte," "The Purple Dress," "One Thousand Dollars," "Transients in Arcadia," "A Chaparral Prince," "The Clarion Call," "The Hiding of Black Bill," and "A Retrieved Reformation." "The Gift of the Magi" is the best of them all, with "The Last Leaf," "A Chaparral Prince," and "A Retrieved Reformation" all coming in second place. O. Henry is an excellent short story writer - it's amazing how we can fully engulf ourselves within these stories, which are no more than ten pages long! I recommend.