Washington Irving

Washington IrvingAn American Author1783 - 1859

Personal BackgroundBorn in New York CityOne of eleven children of Scottish-English immigrant parentsIrvings Father was a merchant and Mother was daughter of English clergymenBoth Parents were patriotic, since the American revolution were ending Named after George Washington Educated privately, studied law, and wrote essays and periodicals.Went to school until he was 24 and passed the bar exam in 1807 Engaged to Matilda Hoffman who died in 1809 at age of 17 .Irving never engaged or married again.

Irvings Background Highlights

Books that influenced him, Robinson Crusoe, Sinbad the Sailor, and The world Displayed1804-1807- Lived in Germany and France, wrote whimsical journals & letters. 1807-1808- with his brother William Irving and James Kirke Paulding wrote the Salamagundi papers, a collection of humorous essays. 1809- Irving became more widely known for his comic work, A History of New York.History of New York is a landmark in American satirical literature, written under the name of "Diedrich Knickerbocker.

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The famous Knickerbocker name

Made up a name Diedrich Knickerbocker as author to mock the Dutch people in New York, A History of New YorkBorrowed the name from congressman Herman Knickerbocker in 1809

Highlights Cont.1819-1820- he composed a collection of stories and essays that became The Sketch Book, under the pen name "Geoffrey Crayon, which included Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy HollowIn 1822- worked in Embassy at Madrid, he researched the biography of Christopher Columbus. 1829- He was secretary of the US legation in London1842- 1846 -US ambassador to SpainAfter Spain, Irving spent most of the rest of his life at his estate, Sunnyside, near Tarrytown, NY, where he finished the 5 volume biography of George Washington

Irvings Claim to International Fame

Popularity of 29 short stories spreadWritings were published in America and across Europe Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Legacy of Sleepy Hollow

Major Themes

The Power of the ImaginationLack of Class Structure in AmericaAbundance of Resources in AmericaThe Natural vs. the SupernaturalHuman selfishness

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

New world and old world A Challenge to American values

Rip Van WinkleMajor Themes

Facts and legacy of Washington Irving Best-known for his short stories, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van WinkleA History of New York helped popularized jolly old St. Nicholas, and giving birth to the modern American Christmas He called the city of New York by the name GothamBefore Irving, no American earned a living as a author Irving advocated for writing as a legitimate career, and argued for stronger laws to protect writers from copyright infringement.

Irvings Literary WorksAbbotsford and Newstead AbbeyThe Adventures of Captain BonnevilleAstoria, or Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky MountainsBracebridge Hall or the HumoristsChronicle of the Conquest of GranadaThe Crayon PapersKnickerbockers History of New YorkThe Legend of Sleepy HollowThe Life of Christopher Columbus, Volume 1,The Life of Christopher Columbus, Volume 2The Life of George Washington, Volume 1Old ChristmasOliver Goldsmith, a biographyThe Sketch-Book of Geoffrey CrayonPrefaceThe Authors Account of HimselfThe VoyageRoscoeThe WifeRip Van WinkleEnglish Writers on AmericaRural Life in EnglandThe Broken HeartThe Art of Book-MakingA Royal PoetThe Country ChurchThe Widow and her SonA Sunday in LondonThe Boars Head TavernThe Mutability of LiteratureRural FuneralsThe Inn KitchenThe Spectre BridegroomWestminster AbbeyChristmasThe Stage-CoachChristmas EveChristmas DayThe Christmas DinnerLondon AntiquesLittle BritainStratford-on-AvonTraits of Indian CharacterPhilip of Pokanoket Tales of a TravellerWolferts Roost and Miscellanies

Works CitedBurstein, Andrew. The Original Knickerbockerhttp://www.biography.com/people/washington-irving-9350087Http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/hns/indians/irving.htmlhttp://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~jmcd/book/revs/khny.html