Gifts of the Magi

Bank clerk William Sydney Porter spent three years in prison for embezzlement of bank funds, where, inspired by the stories of his fellow inmates, he wrote his first story under the pseudonym O. Henry, which soon brought him fame. The famous "Gifts of the Magi" were written after he visited his dying wife on Christmas. He managed to say goodbye to his beloved, and she - to present her husband with a final gift - a gold chain for his watch. The woman did not know that he had sold the very watch to buy a ticket to his hometown with the money he received. Each novella of the incorrigible romantic and the most brilliant storyteller of America is characterized by brilliant and subtle humor, sharp dialogues, unpredictable endings, and colorful characters. The variety of stories included in the collection showcase the multifaceted talent of O. Henry.