O. Henry for the Holidays
O. Henry for the Holidays by O. Henry, published by Library of America on October 7, 2025, is a collection of seven classic short stories centered around Thanksgiving and Christmas. This edition features well-known tales such as “The Gift of the Magi” alongside other seasonal narratives that explore themes of generosity and holiday spirit. Each story is accompanied by helpful notes that provide insights into the biographical and cultural contexts of O. Henry’s work.
Readers will encounter a variety of characters, from a shop clerk saving for a holiday dress to a homeless man navigating the challenges of Thanksgiving dinners. The collection includes stories set in diverse locations, including New Mexico, Texas, New Orleans, and New York City, showcasing O. Henry’s signature wit and unexpected plot twists. This anthology not only highlights the festive spirit of the holidays but also reflects the complexities of city life and human relationships during this time of year. With 112 pages, this English-language edition offers a delightful exploration of O. Henry’s holiday-themed storytelling.
Official synopsis Publisher
THE PERFECT GIFT FOR BOOK LOVERS: Get all 7 of O. Henry’s classic Thanksgiving and Christmas stories, including “The Gift of the Magi,” in one short story collection!
Complete with helpful notes about each short story’s biographical and cultural contexts
“There are just as many real Christmas stories as ever, if we would only dig ’em up,” wrote William Sydney Porter. The first short story he published under the pen name O. Henry was a holiday tale (“Whistling Dick’s Christmas Stocking”), while his best-known work, “The Gift of the Magi,” has inspired countless Yuletide movies and television episodes. Library of America presents all seven of his seasonal offerings—including two about Thanksgiving, the “one day that is purely American”:
- The Purple Dress
- Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen
- Whistling Dick’s Christmas Stocking
- A Chaparral Christmas Gift
- Christmas by Injunction
- The Gift of the Magi
- Compliments of the Season
You’ll meet characters only O. Henry could have imagined: Maida, a shop clerk who scrimps and saves for a new dress to wear to the employee holiday party. Stuffy Pete, a homeless man who suffers through the generosity of back-to-back Thanksgiving dinners. The Frio Kid, a murderous outlaw who unexpectedly commits a single act of generosity. Whistling Dick, a tramp who stumbles upon a potentially lethal act of arson and robbery. Cherokee, a gold prospector who strikes it rich and decides to play Santa Claus. And Fuzzy, an alcoholic “soldier of misfortune,” who stumbles upon the lost rag doll belonging to a millionaire’s five-year-old daughter.
Always witty, often outrageously funny, and filled with O. Henry’s famous plot twists, these stories take readers from New Mexico and Texas, through New Orleans, and to New York City to find the holiday spirit all across America.
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