Everyone remembers the stories by Washington Irving,
right?
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW and Rip Van Winkle are early
examples of American literature that have become ingrained
in American culture. But in this book, which was
originally
titled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., there
are
thirty-two other delightful but maybe not so familiar
tales. I expected to do a skim read and write a quick
review. No go.
I began this little volume a few days before
Halloween. What a perfect time for the Headless Horseman
and Icabod Crane! Much to my surprise, I got all caught up
in the background story of Washington Irving. What a
quirky
character he was! He wrote in a unique and groundbreaking
style.
The Introduction was enchanting. If readers enjoy
the hows and whys of their favorite authors, they will
enjoy this introduction by Elizabeth L. Bradley. She
writes
an illuminating and humorous account of the life and
writings of Washington Irving. He had many pursuits: some
failed and some prospered. But what he left behind in
literature is so different from anything that had come
before. His characters are flawed and take themselves
pretty seriously which ironically is what Washington
Irving
did not do. He pokes fun at everything.
Back to the collection of stories. The fictitious
narrator, Geoffrey Crayon, tells in his sketchbook of his
travels to England to discover from whence he came. There
are hilarious and zany stories told in travelogue form of
Windsor Castle, Stratford-on-Avon, the British Museum, and
many others. There are several entries dealing with every
Christmas tradition and custom that Irving could resurrect
and comment on. The reader will even find a hint of a
character that is similar to that of Dicken's Scrooge who
predates him by several years.
Irving is one of those authors who stand the test
of time. Readers continue to be delighted by his tongue-
in-
cheek humor and very human characters. Which reminds me,
my
son, a high school student, is reading "Rip Van Winkle"
next week in his English class...
The timeless collection that introduced Rip Van Winkle, Ichabod Crane, and the Headless Horseman Perhaps the marker of a true mythos is when the stories themselves overshadow their creator. Originally published under a pseudonym as The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories gave America its own haunted mythology. This collection of larger-than-life tales contains Washington Irving’s best-known literary inventions—Ichabod Crane, the Headless Horseman, and Rip Van Winkle—that continue to capture our imaginations today.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy