Event Details

Gump’s Presents

The Greatest Gift Book

• December 9, 2011

This season give The Greatest Gift, a classic reborn, the original story that became "It's a Wonderful Life" the film by Frank Capra. Meet Tom Glazer, owner of Graphic Image, as he presents copies of the book, autographed by the author's daughter. With your purchase of a book, receive a complimentary monogram.

Everyone loves the movie It's a Wonderful Life but very few have read the book. This limited edition, the first published for wide distribution, is available at Gump's this Holiday 2011. The tale of how The Greatest Gift became the basis for one of the most beloved movies of all time is nearly as inspiring as the classic film. Philip Van Doren Stern was an established author in 1943 when he wrote The Greatest Gift which came to him in a dream. But he could not find a publisher. At his own expense he printed 200 copies and sent them as Christmas cards to his friends. Sure enough, one copy found its way to Hollywood Studio RKO, which purchased the rights. Director Frank Capra and star James Stewart signed on; and the rest is history. The original versions of The Greatest Gift were lost in the shuffle, until Graphic Image owner Tom Glazer found a signed original among his father's belongings in 2011. He located Van Doren Stern's daughter, Marguerite Robinson and asked her to write the afterward, which explains how this small charming book became a holiday classic.

December 9 - 10, 2011
12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Book Salon, First Floor.