I just rediscovered this author after one of his short stories was referenced in a book I just finished!
And I re-fell in love with the tale "The Gift of the Magi"! It is so sweet, sad, and fulfilling! A man and wife want to buy the perfect gift for each other, though they have no money. The self-sacrificing choices both make are heartwarming, funny, and a little devastating, to say the least!
I also enjoyed "The Ransom of Red Chief" which is a funny story about a kidnapping gone wrong, actually, a kidnapping sort of in reverse! The humor of O. Henry is quite a chuckle! And "The Pimienta Pancakes" reminds us all to never trust another rival for the affections of a lady! Fun stuff! And I'm grateful to the author Christopher Moore for setting me along this path! ( )

This collection includes fourteen stories and is beautifully illustrated by Michael Dooling. I can’t pick a favorite one because they were all so absolutely charming. Of course, The Gift of the Magi has to be the most romantic story ever told. Henry has such a unique way of using language that everything that he says is funnier than it would be otherwise. Every story also has a special twist at the end that makes you fall in love with his storytelling. Most of Henry’s stories are short enough that they can easily be read in less than ten minutes. I highly recommend that anyone who hasn’t read him try a few of his stories because it would be difficult not to fall in love with him. ( )