The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories

Here are sixteen of the best stories by one of America's most beloved storytellers, O. Henry. For nearly a century, his work has delighted readers with its humor, irony, and vibrant, real-life settings. O. Henry, born William Sidney Porter in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1862, led a life filled with its own share of color and irony. He worked on a Texas ranch, as a bank teller in Austin, and as a reporter for the Houston Post. His life took a dramatic turn when he was indicted for embezzlement of bank funds. Fleeing to New Orleans and then to Honduras, Porter was eventually tried, convicted, and imprisoned for the crime in 1898.

It was in prison that he began writing stories set in Central America and the American Southwest, which soon became popular with magazine readers. After his release, Porter moved to New York City, where he continued writing under the pen name O. Henry. Although his work garnered an avid readership, O. Henry died in poverty and obscurity scarcely eight years after his arrival in New York.

However, he left behind a treasury of stories, including such classics as "The Gift of the Magi," "The Last Leaf," "The Ransom of Red Chief," "The Voice of the City," and "The Cop and the Anthem" — all featured in this choice selection. This collection is also a selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.