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“The Gift of the Magi”

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“The Gift of the Magi” is one of many texts collected in an anthology of P. Craig Russell’s work, titled Isolation and Illusion: Collected Short Stories 1977-1997. Christmas Eve finds Mr. and Mrs. James Dillingham Young practically penniless, living in nigh penury, and practicing parsimony. Unable to countenance the thought of not gifting each other at this time of year, each sells the only items of value that the couple possesses in order to purchase a gift for one another. Ironically, the items that were purchased are intended to be accompaniments to the items that were sold. The couple’s gifts to each other, like those of the wise men who welcomed baby Jesus, are gifts of sacrifice born of love and are received as such. Russell’s ornate, idealized illustrations reflect the tale’s turn-of-the century setting. Moreover, his choice of a limited color palette that is largely comprised of gold and bronze tones complements and extends the text by providing a tension between depicting the story in sentimental sepia tones and keeping the couple’s lack of monetary wealth ever present in the mind of the audience. This adaptation could be part of a multi-modal study that includes O. Henry’s short story, a movie adaptation, and the song by the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Similarly, it could be included in a text set of different versions of this story or a set focusing on different winter holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Solstice, and Diwali.

  • “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry; illus. and adapted by P. Craig Russell
  • High School
  • Dark Horse Comics
  • 12 pp.
  • Published 1985
  • ISBN 1-56971-838-5
  • $14.95
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