The sketch book as it became commonly knownearned irving an enthusiastic audience in. The legend of sleepy hollow and other stories washington. Washington irving, writer called the first american man of letters. Irvings legend of sleepy hollow the new york times. The story opens with a note that it has been found among the papers of the late diedrich knickerbocker, the storys narrator. Irving wrote the sketch book during a tour of europe, and parts of the tale. Other famous books included the sketch ook 1819, which included the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle, tales of a traveler 1824, and the alhambra 1832. The legend of sleepy hollow story by irving britannica.
Irving zou enkele maanden in 1809 bij hem in huis hebben gewoond. The story is based on an old german folktale known as the wild huntsman about a phantom rider which sometimes appeared headless as he would chase trespassers through the woods. Diedrich knickerbocker 1809, a satirical work that earned the writer. We read it every year at halloween and our kids never seem to tire of it. The legend of sleepy hollow and other stories sterling unabridged classics. Throughout his career, he wrote short stories, biographies, and works of history.
Under the pen name of geoffrey crayon he wrote the essays and short stories collected in the sketch book 1820, his most popular work, which included rip van winkle and the legend of sleepy hollow, set in days when new york was a dutch colony. The legend of sleepy hollow resurfaces every year around. Other famous books included the sketch book 1819, which included the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle, tales of a traveler 1824, and the alhambra 1832. The legend of sleepy hollow and other stories sterling. Rip van winkle and the legend of sleepy hollow were part of the collection. Every year when the green leaves turn bright orange and pumpkins appear on our doorsteps, washington irvings classic ghost story, the legend of sleepy hollow, is retold. The legend of sleepy hollow quotes by washington irving. The legend of sleepy hollow is a short story that was published in 1820 by american author washington irving.
Washington irving was an american author, essayist, biographer and historian. He is best known for the short stories the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van. The sleepy hollow stamp will receive yellow and orange, black and blue in two passes through offset presses and. Seems like it doesnt have much to say, but irving sure knows how to pack a punch. Washington irvings rip van winkle originally appeared in the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. His influence on american writers is unquestioned, wrote edgar allan poe, and his stories have proved as enduring as the catskill mountains the author immortalized.
The book contained both rip van winkle and the legend of sleepy hollow, which are the two stories that irving is known for today. But the book also contained a number of stories and essays about or set during christmastime. That infatuation greatly influenced irving s creation of the legend of sleepy hollow in a number of ways. He endures to this day with the great hudson river tales of the sketch book. Irving is best known for his short stories the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle, both of which appear in his book the. We have received so much pleasure from this book, wrote critic francis. Discover more about popular writer washington irving, author of the classic stories rip van winkle and the legend of sleepy hollow, at biography. To ask other readers questions about the legend of sleepy hollow, please sign up. By calling the story a legend, irving places it in history with other great legends, like atlantis, the fountain of youth, or the legends of the fall. Who wrote rip van winkle and the legend of sleepy hollow.
Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the legend of sleepy hollow, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The legend of sleepy hollow is a gothic story by american author washington irving. From the rip van winkle bridge at the foothills of the catskill mountains to the town of irvington south of sleepy hollow, reminders of his fables permeate the countryside. The protagonist of the story, ichabod crane, is a yankee schoolteacher who lives in sleepy hollow, a dutch enclave on the hudson river. The vocabulary is sometimes daunting to my students, but also immensely valuable for increasing their overall english skills. The legend of sleepy hollow plot diagram storyboard. The legend of sleepy hollow is a favorite in our home. Washington irving was an american author of the 19th century, best remembered for his short stories the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle, both published in 1819. Washington irving legend sleepy hollow rip van winkle. This piece of work deals especially with one of irvings most famous books, the. The legend of sleepy hollow and millions of other books are available for instant. Focusing on the legends of a headless horseman in an early american village in new york, as. As he describes in a letter he wrote in 1824 to his close friend henry brevoort.
This year i decided to do a bit more than read the original classic by washington irving. Most of the book s 30odd pieces concern irvings impressions of england, but six chapters deal with american subjects. Irving consistently embraced this style, as he viewed story as a simple frame on which to stretch my materials. The legend of sleepy hollow pop culture wiki fandom. A suggestible man, crane believes the ghost stories and tales of witchcraft he has heard and read. The legend of sleepy hollow by washington irving goodreads.
The legend of sleepy hollow resurfaces every year around halloween. He published his first book, a history of new york, in 1809, under his pen name, diedrich knickerbocker. Irving wrote a history of new york 1809, perhaps americas first great book of. He was best known for his short stories the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle, both of which appear in his book the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. The result was the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent 181920. Never had a writer been so affected by a setting as washington irving was by the hudson valley of new york state. He wrote it when he stayed in birmingham in england. Two of his most famous short stories are the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle.
The legend of sleepy hollow, short story by washington irving, first published in the sketch book in 181920 the protagonist of the story, ichabod crane, is a yankee schoolteacher who lives in sleepy hollow, a dutch enclave on the hudson river. This 49page story has generated a 200word glossary. It follows a tradition of folk tales involving supernatural wild chases, a tradition which includes such wellknown classics as robert burns tam o shanter. The legend of sleepy hollow is an 1820 short story by american author washington irving. I routinely assign my students the legend of sleepy hollow, along with a glossary i created to aid them through the often archaic language. It was during this period that he wrote several historical works.
The legend of sleepy hollow and other stories from the. I profess not to know how womens hearts are wooed and won. This book poked fun at the local history and politics. The legend of sleepy hollow by washington irving is one of the oldest american stories still regularly taught in schools. He wrote satires based upon those notes about people. The legend of sleepy hollow and other stories sterling unabridged classics irving, washington, mckowen, scott on. Irving uses this framing devicein which he is just presenting a narrative. Washington irving april 3, 1783 november 28, 1859 was an american short story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century.
Washington irvings first fulllength book appeared in december 1809. The legend of sleepy hollow is a short story, written by washington irving, that was part of his short story collection the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. Sage, storyteller, and wit, washington irving created such staples of american fiction as the stories rip van winkle and the legend of sleepy hollow. From 1826 until 1829 he was a member of the staff of the u. Washington irvings famous tale, the legend of sleepy hollow, and its iconic headless horseman were borne of a mix of true history and unnerving folklore. It was in england that he wrote the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent, which contained one of his most famous works, the legend of sleepy hollow. Irving is best known for his short stories the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle, both of which appear in his book the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. Washington irving, father of the american short story. The story behind sleepy hollow historical digression. The legend of sleepy hollow opens with a great deal of descriptionof the setting and the main charactersbefore any narrative action occurs. The legend of sleepy hollow, washington irving book summary. Washington irving washington irving, americas first internationally acclaimed man of letters and the father of the american short story, was born in new york city on april 3, 1783. In 1809, he published the history of new york under his most popular public persona, diedrich knickerbocker.
The legend of sleepy hollow was one of the earliest american tales to gain enduring popularity. He earned his preeminence in early american literature with the masterpieces in miniature collected here. The legend of sleepy hollow author biography course hero. The legend of sleepy hollow first appeared in washington irvings collection of stories, the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. Astoria, onder pseudoniem the author of the sketch book. He is best known for his short stories rip van winkle 1819 and the legend of sleepy hollow 1820, both of which. First published in a book of short stories and essays entitled the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent, it is one of the first enduring works of american fiction. The legend of sleepy hollow, short story by washington irving, first published in the sketch book in 181920. In 1819, he collected some of his essays and short stories into the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. Besides having his fictional sleepy hollow village modeled off the real town of north tarrytown in which he lived, the writer also enjoyed naming and loosely basing his characters off of real people. The text and illustrations used in this ebook are from the revised edition of the sketch book, published in 1863. Learn more about irvings life and writing career in this article. The legend of sleepy hollow is een kort verhaal, geschreven door washington irving, dat deel uitmaakte van zijn verhalenbundel the sketch book of geoffrey crayon.
The true story behind the legend of sleepy hollow zing. Washington irvings 1820 tale of a headless horseman who terrorizes the reallife village of sleepy hollow is considered one of americas first ghost storiesand one of its scariest. Washington irving author of the legend of sleepy hollow and. He published his fi rst book, a history of new york, in 1809, under his pen name, diedrich knickerbocker. Of these, the tales the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle have been called the first american short stories. Washington irvings 1820 tale of a headless horseman who terrorizes the reallife. The legend of sleepy hollow is a gothic story by american author washington irving, contained in his collection of 34 essays and short stories entitled the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent written while irving was living abroad in birmingham, england, the legend of sleepy hollow was first published in 1820. The legend of sleepy hollow plot summary course hero. The legend of sleepy hollow was inspired by a plague and.
Sleepy hollow is renowned for its ghosts and the haunting atmosphere that pervades the imaginations of its inhabitants and visitors. As it turns out, looking a bit into the history of sleepy hollow, there are just as many questions about the origins of the story itself. Washington irving april 3, 1783 november 28, 1859 was an american author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. The story was originally included in a collection of his essays and short stories called the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. The short story, the legend of sleepy hollow, was written by washington irving and published in 1820 in his collection, the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. Washington irving, the legend of sleepy hollow the story is set in 1790 in the countryside around the dutch settlement of tarry town historical tarrytown, new york, in a secluded glen called sleepy hollow. The legend of sleepy hollow is set circa 1790 in the dutch settlement of tarry town based on tarrytown, new york, which is the town irving chose to live the end of his life. How many books did washington irving write answers.
Discover more about popular writer washington irving, author of the classic stories rip van winkle and the legend of sleepy hollow, at. From 1826 to 1829 he was a member of the staff of the us legation in madrid, spain. The volume was a fanciful and often satirical history of his beloved new york city as told by. He is best known for the short stories the legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle, which are both americanized versions of german folktales. He is best known for his short stories rip van winkle 1819 and the legend of sleepy hollow 1820, both of which appear in his collection the sketch book of geoffrey crayon, gent. This year i wanted to add in a few activities to go along this famous folk tale. The movie, sleepy hollow, was based on the short story and was adapted by kevin yagher and andrew kevin walker. They are both americanized versions of german folktales.
While this tale is often thought of as scary, it actually contains a great deal of humor and thoughtfulness. Washington irving was an american author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. Washington irving april 3, 1783 november 28, 1859 was an american shortstory writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. The legend of sleepy hollow is originally a short story written by washington irving and first published in 1820 under the pseudonym of geoffrey crayon. Irvings bekendste korte verhalen, the legend of sleepy hollow en rip van winkle, zijn beide opgenomen in het boek the sketch book of geoffrey crayon.
Iving wrote many other satires, humorous stories that commented on peoples beliefs and politics. He also wrote essays, biographies, and historical works, in addition to working as a. His homestead, called sunnyside can still be visited today. A suggestible man, crane believes the ghost stories and tales. Under another pseudonym, geoffrey crayon, he wrote the sketch book, which included essays about english folk customs, essays about the american indian, and the two american stories for which he is most renownedthe legend of sleepy hollow and rip van winkle.