One of the most beloved short stories in the English language. O. Henry tells the story of a young couple, Jim and Della, who each secretly sacrifice their most prized possession to buy a Christmas gift for the other. Simple in plot, profound in meaning — this story has been read and taught for over a century.
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Open "The Gift of the Magi" (PDF)About O. Henry
O. Henry is the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862–1910), an American short story writer known for his wit, wordplay, and surprise endings. He wrote nearly 600 short stories, many of them set in New York City and depicting the lives of ordinary working people.
"The Gift of the Magi," published in 1905, is his most famous work. Its ending — in which each gift becomes useless because of the other's sacrifice — is one of the most celebrated twists in American literature, and a masterclass in irony and compassion.