The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry - Booklist (review date 1988)
Booklist (review date 1988)
SOURCE: A review of The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories, in Booklist, Vol. 85, No. 8, December 15, 1988, p. 710.
[In the following review, the critic praises a recent reprint of O. Henry's story.]
O. Henry's famous story of giving [“The Gift of the Magi”] describes the Christmas Eve of a young married couple at the turn of the century. Each gives up his chief treasure (Jim sells his watch, Della, her hair) to buy the other a present, which is unexpectedly useless (a watch fob for Jim, a set of combs for Della), but all the more beloved. To be published with a slipcase, this handsomely designed volume includes several full-page illustrations that, with their mannered depiction of character in a tone more quaint then sentimental, recall magazine illustrations of the period. However, the soft focus and muted colors of the artwork make an agreeable addition to the story. While the tale appears...
[The entire page is 192 words long]
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