What do you think?
Rate this book
Gift of the Magi/The Purple Dress
The WISP series (short for Wonderfully Illustrated Short Pieces) represents an ingenious marriage of two creative the artistry of today's foremost children's book illustrators and the literary legacy of beloved authors of popular short works for adults. The resulting offspring of this union are captivating, full–color illustrated editions of timeless classics that readers will want to savor and collect.
This WISP presents O. Henry's classic Christmas tale, The Gift of the Magi, along with The Purple Dress, a story about a young lady who makes a personal sacrifice for the sake of her friend's happiness at a holiday party. Bringing these stories to life are the wondrous illustrations of Chris Raschka, a highly acclaimed illustrator, whose delightful artwork perfectly matches the tale. GIFT OF THE MAGI is sure to attract readers familiar with O. Henry's timeless holiday tales, as well as introduce a new generation of readers to his charming work. These one–of–a–kind, attractively priced and invitingly formatted illustrated editions will make a great impulse buy, appealing to audiences of all ages.
This WISP presents O. Henry's classic Christmas tale, The Gift of the Magi, along with The Purple Dress, a story about a young lady who makes a personal sacrifice for the sake of her friend's happiness at a holiday party. Bringing these stories to life are the wondrous illustrations of Chris Raschka, a highly acclaimed illustrator, whose delightful artwork perfectly matches the tale. GIFT OF THE MAGI is sure to attract readers familiar with O. Henry's timeless holiday tales, as well as introduce a new generation of readers to his charming work. These one–of–a–kind, attractively priced and invitingly formatted illustrated editions will make a great impulse buy, appealing to audiences of all ages.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published October 17, 2006
About the author
O. Henry
2,928 books1,909 followersSuch volumes as
Cabbages and Kings
(1904) and
The Four Million
(1906) collect short stories, noted for their often surprising endings, of American writer William Sydney Porter, who used the pen name O. Henry.
His biography shows where he found inspiration for his characters. His era produced their voices and his language.
Mother of three-year-old Porter died from tuberculosis. He left school at fifteen years of age and worked for five years in drugstore of his uncle and then for two years at a Texas sheep ranch.
In 1884, he went to Austin, where he worked in a real estate office and a church choir and spent four years as a draftsman in the general land office. His wife and firstborn died, but daughter Margaret survived him.
He failed to establish a small humorous weekly and afterward worked in poorly-run bank. When its accounts balanced not, people blamed and fired him.
In Houston, he worked for a few years until, ordered to stand trial for embezzlement, he fled to New Orleans and thence Honduras.
Two years later, he returned on account of illness of his wife. Apprehended, Porter served a few months more than three years in a penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. During his incarceration, he composed ten short stories, including A Blackjack Bargainer , The Enchanted Kiss , and The Duplicity of Hargraves .
In 1899, McClure's published Whistling Dick's Christmas Story and Georgia's Ruling .
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he sent manuscripts to New York editors. In the spring of 1902, Ainslee's Magazine offered him a regular income if he moved to New York.
In less than eight years, he became a bestselling author of collections of short stories. Cabbages and Kings came first in 1904 The Four Million, and The Trimmed Lamp and Heart of the West followed in 1907, and The Voice of the City in 1908, Roads of Destiny and Options in 1909, Strictly Business and Whirligigs in 1910 followed.
Posthumously published collections include The Gentle Grafter about the swindler, Jeff Peters; Rolling Stones , Waifs and Strays , and in 1936, unsigned stories, followed.
People rewarded other persons financially more. A Retrieved Reformation about the safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine got $250; six years later, $500 for dramatic rights, which gave over $100,000 royalties for playwright Paul Armstrong. Many stories have been made into films.
His biography shows where he found inspiration for his characters. His era produced their voices and his language.
Mother of three-year-old Porter died from tuberculosis. He left school at fifteen years of age and worked for five years in drugstore of his uncle and then for two years at a Texas sheep ranch.
In 1884, he went to Austin, where he worked in a real estate office and a church choir and spent four years as a draftsman in the general land office. His wife and firstborn died, but daughter Margaret survived him.
He failed to establish a small humorous weekly and afterward worked in poorly-run bank. When its accounts balanced not, people blamed and fired him.
In Houston, he worked for a few years until, ordered to stand trial for embezzlement, he fled to New Orleans and thence Honduras.
Two years later, he returned on account of illness of his wife. Apprehended, Porter served a few months more than three years in a penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. During his incarceration, he composed ten short stories, including A Blackjack Bargainer , The Enchanted Kiss , and The Duplicity of Hargraves .
In 1899, McClure's published Whistling Dick's Christmas Story and Georgia's Ruling .
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he sent manuscripts to New York editors. In the spring of 1902, Ainslee's Magazine offered him a regular income if he moved to New York.
In less than eight years, he became a bestselling author of collections of short stories. Cabbages and Kings came first in 1904 The Four Million, and The Trimmed Lamp and Heart of the West followed in 1907, and The Voice of the City in 1908, Roads of Destiny and Options in 1909, Strictly Business and Whirligigs in 1910 followed.
Posthumously published collections include The Gentle Grafter about the swindler, Jeff Peters; Rolling Stones , Waifs and Strays , and in 1936, unsigned stories, followed.
People rewarded other persons financially more. A Retrieved Reformation about the safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine got $250; six years later, $500 for dramatic rights, which gave over $100,000 royalties for playwright Paul Armstrong. Many stories have been made into films.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 19, 2025
Absolutely stunning illustrations.
December 14, 2020
O. Henry’s writing never seems dated and its impact doesn’t diminish with time. The meaning of the gifts in the first tale exhibit the true meaning of love, when each gives up the the thing most precious in order to purchase a gift for the other. In the second tale, much the same sentiment is shown, but this time between friends. One girl gives the last of her money, earmarked for a special dress, to a friend for rent. She then decides against going to the dinner, not having anything special to wear. Again, this tale has that unique O. Henry twist that really makes the story remarkable.
April 15, 2023
I loved this! The illustrations made the stories stand out, and I think it's so cool and unique.
November 5, 2012
I picked this up in an effort to find a holiday book for Mother Daughter Book Club. I enjoyed rereading The Gift of the Magi along with the accompanying story. Reed read it as well, proclaiming The Gift of the Magi to be "terrible! I mean, she sells her hair to buy the watch chain and he sells the watch to buy her some hair clips..that's TERRIBLE". She wasn't too fond of The Purple Dress either, stating "he is okay with plot structure, but could use some help with details; I don't really like his writing, but this story does make me like The Gift of the Magi better".
I'm speechless.
I'm speechless.
April 20, 2009
A nice little book containing two stories that's already familiar to most of us (I think). Clearly told, moral easily picked up. Quite nice for children's read (or be read to), I think. The drawings are also quite interesting to me.
February 23, 2011
Hadn't read "Magi" since grade school, and had never read the other story before. Magical, with fantastic illustrations. Short enough to be a great book for children as well as adults, beautiful enough to be a good gift.
December 24, 2012
I always enjoy this story, and this is a beautiful book with beautiful artwork.
April 27, 2014
The illustrations are an acquired taste (and I have to state I haven't really acquired it), but the stories themselves are lovely tales.
November 21, 2016
Good, but kind of sad. I prefer happy stories.
August 19, 2020
Good classic Christmas story.
January 25, 2022
Charming.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews