Cover of The Gift of the Magi

The Gift of the Magi

by O. Henry

Read The Gift of the Magi online, or download the free EPUB (works on Kindle too) or PDF.

Edition from Project Gutenberg. Public-domain rules differ by country, so check yours before downloading.

First published
1905
Pages
10Digital editionReference edition
Reading time
About 10 minutes
Language
English
Reading difficulty
Not set

A little about the story

A young couple with little money each tries to find a Christmas gift worthy of the other. Their separate decisions give the story its shape.

The story makes the couple's affection visible through the ordinary difficulty of buying something when very little money is available. The ending depends on what each person has tried to do for the other without being able to consult them first.

Is it for you?

You’ll enjoy it if you like

  • very short Christmas stories
  • small domestic details
  • endings that make earlier choices matter

Read in one sitting. The opening details about their household prepare the ending with unusual economy.

Things You May Not Know About The Gift of the Magi

  • Della's savings establish the problem. The story opens by accounting for how little she has put aside.
  • Two gifts shape the ending. The separate purchases acquire their full meaning when the couple meet again.

About this edition

Read the Project Gutenberg source record for edition details. The Freebookia PDF has 10 pages. The EPUB adjusts to your reading settings.

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