Synopses & Reviews
One dollar and eight-seven cents is all the money Della has in the world to buy her beloved husband a Christmas present. She has nothing to sell except her only treasureand#8212;her long, beautiful brown hair. Set in New York at the turn of the twentieth century, this classic piece of American literature tells the story of a young couple and the sacrifices each must make to buy the other a gift. Beautiful, delicate watercolors by award-winning illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger add new poignancy and charm to this simple tale about the rewards of unselfish love.
Synopsis
This picture book version of one of the most famous Christmas stories ever written has been the most successful of Lisbeth Zwerger's books published in this country. Zwerger's simple, stark illustrations capture the human drama of O. Henry's story, in which a young husband and wife each sell a great treasure to buy the other a gift. A timeless reminder of how love matters more than any other human circumstance, this book captures the true spirit of Christmas.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Lisbeth Zwergerandlt;/bandgt; was born in Vienna, where she later studied at the Academy of Art. Internationally renowned as one of the finest contemporary illustrators of children's literature, Zwerger chose andlt;Iandgt;The Gift of the Magiandlt;/iandgt; as the first American story she illustrated.William Sydney Porterandmdash;later to be known as O. Henryandmdash;was born in North Carolina in 1862. Known for his surprise endings and ability to capture the hope and pathos of ordinary people, Henry is best remembered for his stories about New York City. andlt;Iandgt;The Gift of the Magiandlt;/Iandgt; was written in 1906, four years before his death.