This holiday classic is about a young couple determined secretly to surprise each other with a special gift despite their limited resources. Unaware of the other’s plans, they each make a personal sacrifice to make their gift possible. It is a timeless story of generosity, sacrifice, and love. Cherished by readers for more than a century, this story is recognized as one of the greatest tales of all time.
Originally published in 1905 by the New York World newspaper and then to a wider audience in his 1906 collection Four Million, “The Gift of the Magi” is one of O. Henry’s most well-known stories, complete with his signature plot twists, cosmic irony, and empathy.
William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American writer who was best known for his short stories. Porter’s signature mark on a story was his masterful use of situational irony, manifested in a plot twist. But he was also known for his ability to blend comedy and sorrow seamlessly and write in a style that was not overly formal, leaving his stories accessible to a wide audience regardless of their class or education.
Porter was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1862, and worked as a licensed pharmacist and a drafter before beginning his literary career.
