It is not for nothing that the stories included in this collection are studied at school as outstanding examples of world literature. After all, each of these stories in its time became a genre and stylistic discovery in world literature. The collection includes the works of the American writers Jack London, Edgar Allan Poe and O. Henry, as well as the Irish writer Oscar Wilde and the English Herbert Wells. In the story "Lust for Life", the trials that befell the fate of the main character extremely illuminate: what is really the most important thing in life, how the will and dignity of a person overcome the challenges of nature and the most difficult circumstances. "The Golden Beetle" is the story of the search for treasures, the key to the location of which has been encrypted. The stories belong to the early forms of the detective genre and the first literary works where cryptography appears. The stories "The Last Leaf" and "Gifts of the Magi" are poignant lyrical works in which humanity and self-sacrifice overcome life's difficulties and even tragic circumstances. "Star Boy" is one of the world's first fantastic stories about contact with an alien mind, in which an extremely rationalistic, heartless civilization is contrasted with a human, emotional one. "Magic Shop" is a short story, which is considered the beginning of the fantasy genre, tells about the visit of a father and son to a magic shop and the unusual gifts received there for Jeep. The work teaches to dream, to be sensitive, kind and patient. Content: Jack London. Thirst for life Edgar Poe. Golden beetle O. Henry. Last leaf O. Henry. Gifts of the Magi Oscar Wilde. star boy Herbert Wells. A charming shop
