Book description
"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story, about a young married couple and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been a popular one for…
Why read it?
2 authors picked The Gift of the Magi as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This story shines a spotlight on selfless love. I cried buckets when I read this as a child. I also wondered if I’d ever be willing to cut my hair, as Della did, to raise the money to buy Jim that watch chain. I’m still not sure I would. The story beautifully articulates the parameters of selfless love. I’ve always been fascinated by this theme.
From Barbara's list on heartwarming Christmas books.
O. Henry is known for his surprise endings and this book is a beautiful tale of a poor young couple who sacrifice their most prized possessions in order to give a gift to each other. Della cuts her glorious hair to buy a watch chain for Jim, and Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della’s hair. But instead of a sad story, this one ends with the lovely point that they each love selflessly, and can save their gifts for later.
From Joni's list on classic Christmas books.
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