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Indulge Yourself with the best classics literature on Your PDA. Navigateeasily to any novel from Table of Contents or search for the words or phrases.Author's biography and free stories in the trial version.

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a short story by Washington Irving contained in his collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., written while he was living in Birmingham, England, and first published in 1820. With Irving's companion piece "Rip Van Winkle", "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is among the earliest American fiction still read today. ... Read more

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Term paper due tomorrow? Need to cram for a test? Or just looking for the best information about a favorite literary work?

Turn to "Short Stories for Students" to get your research done in record time. Brought to you by Thomson Gale--the world's leading source of literary criticism and analysis--this e-doc contains: plot summary; character analysis; author biography; an overview of the story's themes, style, and historical context; a compendium of in-depth critical material; study questions; suggestions for further reading; and much more.

Why choose "Short Stories for Students"? Because no other source offers so much in such a compact package. Trust the experts: Thomson Gale--and "Short Stories for Students."Download Description

Term paper due tomorrow? Need to bone up for a test? Or just looking for the best information about a favorite literary work?

Turn to "Short Stories for Students" to get your research done in record time. Brought to you by the Gale Group--the world's leading source of literary criticism and analysis--this e-doc contains: plot summary; character analysis; author biography; an overview of the story's themes, style, and historical context; a compendium of in-depth critical material; study questions; suggestions for further reading; and much more.

Why choose "Short Stories for Students"? Because no other source offers so much in such a compact package. Trust the experts: The Gale Group--and "Short Stories for Students." ... Read more

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1809. Washington Irving was the first American literary artist to earn his living solely through his writings and is considered to be the Father of the American Short Story. Irving wrote this satire under the pseudonym of Diedrich Knickerbocker. It has been called the first great book of comic literature written by an American. Purporting to be a scholarly account of the Dutch occupation of the New World, the book is a burlesque of history books as well as a satire of politics in his own time. See other Irving titles available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

"How the town of New Amsterdam arose out of the mud"
In 1809 Washington Irving published "A History of New York," the work that make him instantly famous. Conceived as a parody of Samuel L. Mitchill's guidebook "The Picture of New York" (1807), Irving's "History" purports to be written by the fictitious Diedrich Knickerbocker. It was, perhaps, the first American book to be embargoed by the publisher--that is, it was published in Philadelphia to keep its contents secret from the press in New York. Before the book was published, Irving and his friends even coordinated a hoax through the local papers, publishing a series of notices advertising Knickerbocker's inexplicable disappearance: "there are some reasons for believing he is not in his right mind," and "a very curious kind of written book has been found in his room."

The book was such a success that Irving revised it repeatedly during his lifetime, and readers should note which edition they are purchasing. Most recent editions reprint either the original text or the last revision, which are so different that they may as well be considered different works. By the time of the Author's Revised Edition of Irving's collected works, published in 1848, Irving had completely rewritten over a tenth of the book, added about 7,000 words of new material, softened the sarcasm, eliminated the mocking references to Jefferson's presidential administration, removed many risque passages and double entendres, and polished the overall style. The barbs are more personal in the earlier edition; Irving aimed his parody more broadly forty years later. In sum, while the earlier edition was considered more scandalous--even "naughty"--and cheekier in its wit and tone, the last edition is certainly more polished and "mature"--and might be considered by many as noticeably easier to read. (The remainder of this review focuses on the 1809 edition.)

The book's conceit is that the fictitious Knickerbocker, a Dutch descendant, nostalgically mourns the passing of Dutch hegemony on the island of "Manna-hata, Manhattoes, or as it is vulgarly called Manhattan," and he offers a rousing defense (read: mock hagiography) of the Dutch governors. But Irving's satire is aimed not simply at the long-dead colonists of New York; his depictions of various Dutch leaders evoke many of his contemporaries. Thus, Wilhelmus Kleft seems an awful lot like Thomas Jefferson, and Jacobus von Poffenburgh recalls General James Wilkinson (who was caught up in Aaron Burr's allegedly treasonous schemes against Jefferson's government). The "hero" of the book, however, is Peter Stuyvesant, whose glorious qualities are manifold--even if his rule was considered authoritarian and his last act as governor was to rebel against his own king, who had ceded Manhattan to his brother, the duke of York.

Irving, as Knickerbocker, also mocks the pretensions of historical scholarship. He offers philosophical justifications for the obesities of city leaders ("Who ever heard of fat men heading a riot?") and praises the well-honed Dutch civil defense against Yankee encroachments ("Never was a more comprehensive, a more expeditious, or, what is still better, a more economical measure devised, than this of defeating the Yankees by proclamation."). He interrupts his narrative several times with admonishments to the reader or faux biographical meanderings, and, near the end of the book, he acknowledges that his tone has changed from that of a "crabbed cynical, impertinent little son of a Dutchman" to a "most social, companionable regard." Of the many readers that began his book, "some dropped down dead (asleep) on the field; others threw down my book in the middle of the first chapter, took to their heels and never ceased scampering until they had fairly run it out of sight . . . Every page thinned my ranks more and more."

This last self-deprecatory joke is certainly the case for modern would-be readers: Irving's archaic prose can be a slog, and his historical and literary references will perplex even the most arduous. But not all the humor is dated, and quite often patient readers will be rewarded by a comment or pun that may even cause them to laugh out loud.

American Fiction, Humor, Starts Here
Washington Irving's A Knickerbocker's History of New York is the single funniest book in American literature. Despite a weak and too-lengthy opening segment on the origin of life and other awkward philosophical questions (the merits of this section are addressed by Irving/Knickerbocker in volume two), once the Dutch colonize the ancient island of Manhattoes (present-day Manhattan), Irving hits a rollicking gallop, going full stride at full speed and doesn't stop until the dubious William the Testy is vanquished at the first volume's end.

"Diedrich Knickerbocker" was arguably the greatest of the several personae Irving adopted during the course of his long writing career. 'Diedrich' penned 'The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow' and 'Rip Van Winkle,' as well as short stories 'Wolfert Weber,' 'The Devil And Tom Walker,' 'Kidd The Pirate,' and 'Dolph Heyliger.' Irving achieved magic whenever he wrote, but when he steps into Knickerbocker's antique Dutch shoes, the combination of humor, history and folklore that results is unique, sweeping, and highly entertaining.

Few writers could or would dare to write the kind of poetic sentances Irving/Knickerbocker could, such as "the inhabitants were of primitive stock, and had itermarried and bred in and in, never swarming far from the parent hive."

All lovers of American literature and history, and of Americana generally, should know this delightful, warm and amusing book. Too often today, when addressing the origins of American literature and our early writers, we turn to names like Hawthorne and Poe, forgetting that Irving came first and was in fact the first American writer ever to be taken seriously by Europeans. (It was Hawthorne and Poe that paid lip service to Irving, who was born a full 21 years before Hawthorne and 26 years before Poe.) Some historians and critics go so far as to credit Irving with the creation of the short story as a literary form; he was also the U.S. ambassador to Spain, a world traveler, a biographer of George Washington, and at one time requested to run for mayor of New York City (an invitation he kindly declined). Thanks largely to Irving, the New York City and Hudson River Valley areas have a thriving plethora of myth and folklore all their own. As Americans, we owe the dynamic, magnanimous and prolific Irving a great debt, which decade after decade we neglect to pay or acknowledge.

Knickerbocker's History of New York is not difficult reading, though it is too advanced for children and most teenagers. However, any young adult or adult with a love of American history, particularly with an interest in the founding of our country or the American Revolution specifically, will find it fascinating. Humorists will find it a page-turning delight, and send their volumes of Twain back to the library post-haste.... ... Read more

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Captain Benjamin L. E. Bonneville left the east for California in May of 1832. No one heard from him, and many people assumed he was dead (or AWOL). Three years later he returned. Washington Irving (Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle) met Bonneville, bought the rights to his journal, and after editing it and recasting it in the third person, published it. It is probably the most literate, readable description of the fur trapper era.Download Description
IT WAS ON THE 20TH of July that Captain Bonneville first came in sight of the grand region of his hopes and anticipations, the Rocky Mountains. He had been making a bend to the south, to avoid some obstacles along the river, and had attained a high, rocky ridge, when a magnificent prospect burst upon his sight. To the west rose the Wind River Mountains, with their bleached and snowy summits towering into the clouds. (May be a real biography... unclear at just this moment). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fur Trade Classic
While some historians portray Bonneville as an arrogant, contemptuous, bumbling buffoon of the fur trade era, others alsodenounce the manner in which Irving attempts to place Bonneville on a pedestal.There are certainly subjects open to controversy, such as Irving's treatment (through Bonneville?) of Joseph Walker's "non-authorized" expedition to California, or the building of Fort Bonneville, known to the trappers as Fort Nonsense because of its location, etc.There are well documented accounts of Indian culture; how the trappers coexisted (and didn't) amongst the Native Americans; the never ending feuds between the American Fur Company, the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and the Hudson's Bay Fur Company; the annual mountain rendezvous; the shortages of food; elements of nature; descriptions of geography, geology, etc.; and simply put, survival in the wilderness in the 1830's.This is a classic of the fur trade period, and Irving's writing style is very realistic and expressive of the lifesyles back then. ... Read more

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This delightful selection of stories and essays was written by Irving under the pseudonym "Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.," and was popular both in America and abroad. In Rip Van Winkle, the title character and Catskill native falls asleep before the American Revolution and awakes 20 years later in the newly formed nation, which seems, in many ways, similar to the colonies of old. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow tells of self-satisfied schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, who is chased out of Sleepy Hollow (and Katrina Van Tassel\'s embraces) by the headless horseman - and is now rumored to have become a politician. Essay selections focus largely on Irving\'s observations of England from an American perspective. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Unedited, Poorly Scanned Copy
It is incredible that this book has not only made it to print but is actually advertised and sold by Amazon. It appears to have been copied by scanning and then printed, almost unedited, from the product of that copy method. Anyone in the least familiar with the scanning process knows that strange characters appear and words are often distorted and separated in an unusual manner. Nothing was done to "clean up" the text with the original in view. It is an "Elibron Classic" and published in 2006. Were it not that I need the text for a course I am enrolled it, I would have returned it summarily for a refund. Whole sentences are incomplete, strange and unusual words and markings appear [and they are not merely archaic words from a forgotten vocabulary]. It is a frustrating read, but with a little imagination the original elegance of Washington Irving's prose can be gleamed. ... Read more

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A literary introduction to the founder of Islam
In the last two decades of his life, Washington Irving produced a number of biographies intended for "the family library." In many ways, these works resemble the brief biographies currently being produced by literary figures for the Penguin Biographical Series. With a strong emphasis on the narrative events, while recounting the general literary and cultural traditions that enliven his subjects, Irving produced highly readable and intelligent works, among then studies of Christopher Columbus and George Washington.Published in 1850 after Irving returned from his tour as Minister to Spain, "Life of Mahomet and His Successors " was initially a sketch for what Irving hoped would be a longer study of the Islamic invasion of Spain and its effects on Spanish culture.At the request of a friend, Irving lengthed his intial sketch of the Prophet, revising it years later, again at the request of a friend, and adding an appendex, "Of the Islam Faith" that examines Islamic articles of faith and the daily religious practices of Moslems.Although Irving is a product of an Enlightenmenteducation, he is by no means dismissive of the aims or beliefs of Mohammed. For instance, in discussing the various miracles attributed to Mohammed, Irving notes that Mohammed himself said that the only miracle was the Koran.Irving also notes the reactions of Christians and Jews during the foundation of Islam--that many said he was anti-Christ, that many signs and portents in Constantinople excited the religious authorities throughout the Mediterranean world. Irving's harshest criticism is reserved for the transformation of Islam during the prophet's life into a political force, often of violence and intolerance, which in Irving's opinion, distorted the spiritual truth of Mohammed's earlier visions.Despite these criticisms, Irving ultimately offers the reader the argument that the truest measure of Islam and its founder can be located in the beauty of the Koran.Read with Karen Armstrong's study of Islam, as well as NJ Dawood's translation of the Koran, this forgotten biography will extend your historical understanding of this important man and the world religious movement he founded.

A literary introduction to the founder of Islam
In the last two decades of his life, Washington Irving produced a number of biographies intended for "the family library." In many ways, these works resemble the brief biographies currently being produced by literary figures for the Penguin Biographical Series. With a strong emphasis on the narrative events, while recounting the general literary and cultural traditions that enliven his subjects, Irving produced highly readable and intelligent works, among then studies of Christopher Columbus and George Washington.Published in 1850 after Irving returned from his tour as Minister to Spain, "Life of Mahomet and His Successors " was initially a sketch for what Irving hoped would be a longer study of the Islamic invasion of Spain and its effects on Spanish culture.At the request of a friend, Irving lengthed his intial sketch of the Prophet, revising it years later, again at the request of a friend, and adding an appendex, "Of the Islam Faith" that examines Islamic articles of faith and the daily religious practices of Moslems.Although Irving is a product of an Enlightenmenteducation, he is by no means dismissive of the aims or beliefs of Mohammed. For instance, in discussing the various miracles attributed to Mohammed, Irving notes that Mohammed himself said that the only miracle was the Koran.Irving also notes the reactions of Christians and Jews during the foundation of Islam--that many said he was anti-Christ, that many signs and portents in Constantinople excited the religious authorities throughout the Mediterranean world. Irving's harshest criticism is reserved for the transformation of Islam during the prophet's life into a political force, often of violence and intolerance, which in Irving's opinion, distorted the spiritual truth of Mohammed's earlier visions.Despite these criticisms, Irving ultimately offers the reader the argument that the truest measure of Islam and its founder can be located in the beauty of the Koran.Read with Karen Armstrong's study of Islam, as well as NJ Dawood's translation of the Koran, this forgotten biography will extend your historical understanding of this important man and the world religious movement he founded. ... Read more

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