The Gift of the Magi PDF is a short story written by O. Henry, originally published in 1905 in The New York Sunday World Magazine. The story has since been reprinted numerous times and has become a beloved classic of American literature.
The Gift of the Magi has received widespread critical acclaim over the years. It has been praised for its simple, yet powerful storytelling, its vivid characterizations, and its enduring themes of love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of gift-giving. The story has been adapted into numerous films, stage productions, and other media, and has become a fixture of Christmas literature.
The publisher of the original 1905 edition of “The Gift of the Magi” was Doubleday, Page & Company. Since then, the story has been published by a wide variety of publishers, both in the United States and around the world. The story is now in the public domain, meaning that it can be freely published and distributed without copyright restrictions. The Gift of the Magi is available in a wide variety of formats, including print, e-book, and audiobook.
Table of Contents
The Gift of the Magi Summary
It is a story about a young couple named Jim and Della who are very much in love. It is Christmas time, but they are both very poor and cannot afford to buy each other expensive gifts. However, they are determined to show their love by finding a way to give something special to each other.
Della has beautiful long hair, which is her pride and joy. She decides to sell her hair to a wig-maker in order to buy Jim a chain for his treasured pocket watch. Jim, on the other hand, decides to sell his watch to buy Della a set of combs for her hair.
On Christmas Eve, they both eagerly exchange their gifts. However, they are both surprised to find that their gifts are useless, as Della has cut her hair and Jim has sold his watch. They both realize that they have made great sacrifices for each other and that their love is the greatest gift of all.
The story ends with the narrator describing the couple as “the magi” or wise men, who have given of themselves in order to show their love for each other. The story teaches us that the true value of a gift is not in its material worth, but in the love and sacrifice that goes into it.
Details of The Gift of the Magi Book
| Book | The Gift of the Magi |
| Author | O. Henry |
| Original language | English |
| Originally published | December 10, 1905 |
| Category | Short Story, Fiction |
| Publisher | McClure, Phillips, and Company |
| Total Pages | 20 |
| Format | PDF, ePub |
The Gift of the Magi PDF Free Download
Click on the download button below to get a pdf file of The Gift of the Magi book.
Multiple Languages Editions of The Gift of the Magi Book
As “The Gift of the Magi” is a classic piece of literature, it has been translated into many languages. It is available in numerous editions in languages including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and more.
| Book Editions | Check Now |
|---|---|
| English | Check Price |
| Spanish | Check Price |
| Hindi | Check Price |
| Chinese | Check Price |
| Japanese | Check Price |
About the Author
The author of “The Gift of the Magi” is William Sydney Porter, who is better known by his pen name, O. Henry. He was born on September 11, 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina, and died on June 5, 1910, in New York City.
O. Henry was a prolific writer of short stories, known for his wit, humor, and clever twists of plot. He began his writing career as a journalist in Texas, where he wrote for various newspapers and magazines. He later moved to New York City, where he continued to write and published many of his most famous stories.
O. Henry’s stories often feature ordinary people in everyday situations, and he has been praised for his ability to capture the essence of American life in his writing. He is also known for his use of irony, surprise endings, and unique storytelling techniques.
Although he struggled with alcoholism and financial difficulties throughout his life, O. Henry’s writing remains highly regarded to this day. “The Gift of the Magi” is considered one of his most popular and enduring works, and is widely anthologized and studied in schools and universities.
Similar Books to The Gift of the Magi Book
- The Last Leaf by O. Henry
- The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
- Grandma’s Bag of Stories by Sudha Murty
- The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
FAQs(Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the main message of The Gift of the Magi?
The main message of The Gift of the Magi is that true love involves sacrifice and selflessness.
Why it is called The Gift of the Magi?
The story is called The Gift of the Magi because it alludes to the biblical story of the Magi, or the Three Wise Men, who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
Is The Gift of the Magi a sad story?
The Gift of the Magi is not necessarily a sad story, but it does have a bittersweet ending that may evoke emotions of sadness or poignancy.
What is the irony in The Gift of the Magi?
The irony in The Gift of the Magi is that both Jim and Della sell their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other, but their gifts end up being useless because they have given up the things that the gifts were meant to enhance.
What is the conclusion of The Gift of the Magi?
The conclusion of The Gift of the Magi is that true love is the greatest gift of all, and that material possessions are not the most important things in life.
