Bank clerk William Sydney Porter spent three years in prison for embezzling bank funds, where, inspired by the stories of his fellow inmates, he wrote his first short story under the pseudonym O. Henry, which soon brought him fame. The famous "The Gifts of the Magi" was written after he arrived at his dying wife's side on Christmas. He managed to say goodbye to his beloved, and she gave her husband one last gift - a gold chain for his watch. The woman did not know that he had sold that very watch to buy a ticket back to his hometown.
Each story of the incorrigible romantic and the brightest storyteller of America is filled with brilliant and subtle humor, sharp dialogues, unpredictable endings, and colorful characters. The variety of stories included in the collection showcases the multifaceted talent of O. Henry.
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