Sjömansbiblioteket

“The Gift of the Magi” is a short story about love, selflessness, sacrifices and struggles. Della and James are a young married couple who want to surprise each other with a secret gift for Christmas. It sounds however easier than it actually is because both of them have very little money.
Will they manage to buy something in time and will it be appreciated? What is the most priceless thing they can get each other? What if they already have it but have not realized it?
“The Gift of the Magi” is a vivid combination of comic irony and moral lesson. This story with a twist ending makes you laugh and at the same time think about really is important in life.

William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was an American writer who lived in the late 19th century. He gains wide popularity with his short stories which often take place either in New York or some small American towns. The plot twists and the surprise endings are a typical and integral part of O. Henry’s short stories. Some of his best known works are “The Gift of the Magi”, “The Cop and the Anthem”, “A Retrieved Reformation”. His stories often deal with ordinary people and the individual aspects of life.
As a result of the outstanding literature legacy that O. Henry left behind, there is an American annual award after his name, given to exceptional short stories.