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Overview
Published in 1906 as part of the short story collection The Four Million, “The Gift of the Magi” is O. Henry’s most well-known short story
. Set contemporaneously to its publication date, the story depicts a poor young couple’s struggle to give each other a valuable gift on Christmas Eve. It is known for its ironic ending and its structure as a bittersweet parable. A popular and prolific short story writer, the O. Henry Prize was established in his honor in 1919. It is presented annually to exceptional short stories.Read the free full text, the full story summary, an in-depth character analysis of Della, and explanations of important quotes from “The Gift of the Magi.”
