The Gift of the Magi [Hardcover]

O. Henry (Author), P.J. Lynch (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 9, 2008

O. Henry's classic tale of the wisest gifts of Christmas, brought to life by P.J. Lynch's extraordinary art, is itself a gift to share and treasure.

In a shabby New York flat, Della sobs as she counts the few coins she has saved to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. A gift worthy of her devotion will require a great sacrifice: selling her long, beautiful hair. Jim, meanwhile, has made a sacrifice for Della that is no less difficult. As they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, the discovery of what each has done fills them with despair, until they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found more readily in their humble apartment than in any fine store. O. Henry paints a masterly portrait of unfaltering love, a haven from the harsh world outside. The poignancy of his story is captured in P.J. Lynch's eloquent art, wherein every glance, every gesture, tells a subtle truth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

O. Henry's classic tale of Della and Jim, the struggling newlyweds so anxious to give each other a Christmas gift that each sells the one thing the other holds most dear, receives an oddly lifeless treatment here. Heyer's meticulously detailed illustrations are pretty but stilted; the characters look like mannequins. The rueful Jim fares better than poor prematurely middle-aged Della, who at times looks more like his mother than his wife. Still, the story is as touching as ever, and neither time nor mediocre artwork can dim its glory. All ages.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up–An illustrated, unabridged version of the classic short story in which a young husband and wife each, unbeknownst to the other, gives up a most treasured possession to buy the other a wonderful gift. The gifts, of course, are useless as a result, but the couple's love is presumably all the stronger. The sepia-toned watercolors have an authentic period look; the details present in the New York City street scenes and the couple's rather shabby apartment add a strong feeling of time and place to the story. Very different in style from Lisbeth Zwerger's lovely and delicate version (S & S, 2006), this is a fine choice for libraries needing another illustrated edition of this Christmas tale.–Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; First Edition edition (September 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763635308
• ISBN-13: 978-0763635305
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.4 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this story. February 9, 2011

By jencheryi

Format:Kindle Edition

This is a short story that I read over a decade ago for the first time, and it has stuck with me since then. In the story, it is Christmastime, and we meet the two main characters, a young married couple who have each other and very little else, except the husband's (Jim's) heirloom pocketwatch and the wife's (Della's) hair. In a despirate attempt to provide a worthy present for her beloved husband, Della sells her knee-length hair to buy a gold chain for the pocketwatch. Little does she know, Jim has done something just as extreme for her. This is an inspiring tale that, despite its simplicity, speaks volumes about the sacrifices we willingly make for those we truly love.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gift from the Heart December 20, 2006

By E. Riego

Format:Hardcover

I picked up this book out of nice-cover curiosity and for some light reading to my 2nd grade CCD class, and instead of finding simple children's Christmas book I found a literary masterpiece. Lizabeth Zewerger has transformed O. Henry's very mature adult short story about social poverty and vicarious giving into a children's tale about the true meaning of Christmas. I was awed by the delicateness of Zewerger's watercolors and amazed by the way she perfectly expressed each emotion of O. Henry's tale.

In a world where every holiday (especially Christmas) has been commercialized this book is a symbol of the true meaning of giving. Before you get lost in the hustle and bustle (or if you unfortunately already have) do yourself and your loved ones a favor and pick up this book. It's a great gift for children of all ages and adults too. This is a gift from the heart to give at Christmas.

Reconnect and STAY connected!

40 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great quick read October 21, 2010

By Sarah B.

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a classic story that was assigned reading material my freshman year of high school. Understated story, very well-written. The Kindle version is nice and I have no complaints with formatting.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, but Incomplete September 27, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is a classic Christmas story in our family and is linked to many Christmas traditions; however, I was disappointed in this copy because of its "editing." Many parts of the original story were missing for no apparent reason. I did, however, find the illistrations lovely and would recommend this book for that reason.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars timeless beautiful story /ethereal art March 23, 2008

By Christine Marti

Format:Hardcover

I give this beautiful book either to newlyweds on their first Christmas or as a shower/wedding gift. It is so poignant. I hope to remind them that the sacrifices you make in early love/marriage need to be continued through all the years of your marriage. Always wanting to make your partner happy often times means forgoing your own happiness. The red cover I like for Christmas otherwise the white cover for wedding gifts.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars exquisite little story December 18, 2000

By Orrin C. Judd VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Especially when you are young, short stories seem like they should have some tremendous payoff at the end, if for no other reason than to justify their very brevity. Or perhaps that is simply a function of the fact that we all grow up reading the great tales of O. Henry. And of all those stories and of all those shocking payoffs, there is perhaps no other twist quite like the one at the end of Gift of the Magi.

Jim and Della Young are a wretchedly poor young married couple. Della has just $1.87 to buy a Christmas gift for Jim and between them they have precious little of any value:

Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out of the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.

Well, you either know the rest or else I wouldn't want to ruin it for you. Suffice it to say that O. Henry leaves us with the following thought:

The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men-who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house.... But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

This exquisite little story beautifully captures the spirit of the season. It's one for the whole family to enjoy as, with warmth and wit, it imparts the age old lesson about it being better to give than to receive.

GRADE: A+ Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful In Every Way January 5, 2009

By J. Penar

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

A beautiful, truthful love story set in the early 1900s on Christmas Eve, that has brought me joyful tears every time I've heard it, and now I've found an edition with illustrations that I can cherish as much as the story itself. This book is not just for Christmas time! And the Amazon price (for a new edition) can't be beat.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent December 4, 2008

By Tiza

Format:Hardcover

This timeless story of love and sacrifice of a young couple is made even more wonderful by the exquisite illustrations in this version. I saw it in a book store among the children's books but it is a story for all ages not just childen. It is a story and book to be treasured and brought out not just at Christmas but all year.