The Gift of the Magi and the Ransom of Red Chief


Book Description

|| The Gift of The Magi || "The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been popular for adaptation, especially for presentation at Christmas time. The plot and its twist ending are well-known, and the ending is generally considered an example of comic irony. It was allegedly written at Pete's Tavern on Irving Place in New York City.***The Ransom of The Red Chief *** : "The Ransom of Red Chief" is a 1910 short story by O. Henry first published in The Saturday Evening Post. It follows two men who kidnap and attempt to ransom a wealthy Alabamian's son; eventually, the men are driven crazy by the boy's spoiled and hyperactive behavior, and pay the boy's father to take him back.The story and its main idea have become a part of popular culture, with many children's television programs using a version of the story as one of their episodes. Things make it different from other books:1. Illustrations2. Author Biography3. Summary




The Ransom of Red Chief


Book Description

Two men kidnap a mischievous boy and request a large ransom for his return.




The Gift of the Magi


Book Description

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been popular for adaptation, especially for presentation at Christmas time.




The Ransom of Red Chief


Book Description

O. Henry's short stories brim with lively wit and wisdom, sudden twist endings and amusing characterizations, plus memorable moral lessons. An iconic author at his height in the early 20th century, O. Henry was industrious and prolific, turning out short stories at astonishing speed. This anthology contains 24 of his finest tales, with highlights being a parody of Sherlock Holmes named ?Shamrock Jolnes?, and send-ups of certain frivolous yet monied city dwellers. The breezy dialogue and descriptive prose tend to be witty and playful, with the author occasionally venturing to the satirical in his plotting. The titular story is among O. Henry's most famous; a pair of opportunistic crooks kidnap the son of a wealthy Alabama businessman, hoping to collect a hefty ransom. They are soon driven to their wits end however, when the boy turns out to be a wildly misbehaving brat. The boy's father makes a counteroffer: for a modest sum, he?ll take the boy back. The kidnappers agree and the youngster is returned.




The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories


Book Description

Presents sixteen short fiction stories by nineteenth-century American author O. Henry, including the title work about the Christmas sacrifices of a young married couple.




The Necklace and Other Short Stories


Book Description

Opulence is sometimes deceiving“She removed the wraps from her shoulders before the glass, for a final view of herself in her glory. Suddenly she uttered a cry. Her necklace was not around...” - Guy de Maupassant, The Necklace Madame Mathilde Loisel is displeased: she cannot go to a fancy party because she doesn’t have anything to wear. Her husband tries to help her and gives her money to buy a new dress. She insists she also needs jewels so she borrows a diamond necklace from her friend, Madame Jeanne Forestier. After the party, Mathilde realizes that she lost the stunning necklace. ,This book has been professionally formatted for e-readers and contains a bonus book club leadership guide and discussion questions. We hope you’ll share this book with your friends, neighbors and colleagues and can’t wait to hear what you have to say about it.




Jean Negulesco


Book Description

Originally a successful painter from Romania, Jean Negulesco worked in Hollywood first as an art director, then as a second unit director. He was later hired as a director by various studios--mostly for ballet and musical shorts--before being assigned to a number of commercially successful films. During his 30-year career, he worked in several European countries yet it was in the U.S. he achieved his greatest success, with Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox. Dubbed "The Prince of Melodrama" by critics, he directed films of all genres, working with stars like Joan Crawford, John Garfield, Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Bette Davis, Richard Burton, Alec Guinness, Fred Astaire and many others. Negulesco was nominated for Best Director by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1948 for Johnny Belinda--now considered a classic, along with his The Mask of Dimitrios (1944), Humoresque (1946), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and Three Coins in the Fountain (1954). This book--the first on him since his 1984 autobiography--covers his extraordinary life and career, with extensive analyses of his films.




Mosaic Reader – 7


Book Description

Mosaic, a complete multi-skill package, is based on the ICSE pattern. Through its child-centred, interactive approach, it brings out the best of both modern and traditional ELT practices.




Selected Stories From O. Henry [Pseud.]


Book Description

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.




Critical Companion to John Steinbeck


Book Description

Celebrates the American writer who in his works confronted and explored the social fabric of the United States in the early 20th century. More than 500 entries include synopses of his novels, short stories, and nonfiction; descriptions of his characters, details about family, friends, and associates.