The Gifts of the Magi

The book includes stories by the famous American writer O. Henry, recognized as a master of short stories with unexpected endings.

His heroes are either simply "little people" from big New York, or carefree and cheerful artists and writers, or boys from a tough gangster neighborhood and their touchingly loyal girlfriends, or inhabitants of the Wild West - cowboys, ranchers, farmers. Their plots are always captively engaging, with swift and unexpected resolutions. All of them are full of subtle humor, unexpected comparisons, and unpredictable outcomes.

The characters of the stories are noble and romantic, inventive and resourceful, optimistic and full of life, finding a way out of any situation. O. Henry (real name William Sidney Porter, 1862-1910) is an American writer, humorist, and master of short stories with unexpected endings. The plots of his works often drew inspiration from life.

While sitting in prison on charges of embezzlement, he wrote his first story. His creations had happy endings, though fate did not favor the author himself. Thus, the famous “The Gifts of the Magi” was written after he arrived at the side of his dying wife on Christmas. He managed to say goodbye to his beloved, and she presented her husband with one last gift - a gold chain for his watch.

The woman did not know that he had sold that very watch to buy a ticket back to his hometown.