1. Washington Irving American Author (1783 – 1859)

2. Early Life Born April 3, 1783; died November 28, 1859 Raised in Manhattan, New York, by parents William and Sarah Youngest of 11 children; named after George Washington Early passion for books; studied law privately; practiced only briefly Traveled widely in Europe

3. Books and Travel Early passion for books Read Robinson Crusoe, Sinbad the Sailor, and The World Displayed (adventure stories about voyages and travels) Later traveled extensively

4. Family and Business Merchant family encouraged him in his pursuits as writer and politician Partner with his brothers in the family hardware business Engaged to Matilda Hoffmann who died at seventeen in 1809 After death of mother, stayed in Europe for seventeen years from 1815 to 1832

5. Beginning Writing Career Career as a writer started in journals and newspapers. Early success with comic history of the Dutch regime in New York Used pseudonyms such as Geoffrey Crayon for The Sketch Book

6. Key Works Sketch Book (1819-1820) “Rip Van Winkle” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” History of Christopher Columbus Tour on the Prairies Astoria The Adventures of Captain Bonnevile, U.S.A. Five-volume The Life of George Washington (1855-59)

7. Irving ’ s sparkling, satirical History of New York (1809) written under pen name of Diedrich Knickerbocker Spawned Knickbocker School of literature with Irving and his friends Sometimes applied to all literary Manhattanites of the time New York basketball team got its name from the New York Knickerbockers (Knicks) Knickerbocker School

8. Based on German folktales, often set in the Dutch culture of Pre-Revolutionary War in New York State Narrated by American traveler in Europe, a persona close to Irving himself Irving accused of not being truly “American” The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.

9. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” Explores the story of Ichabod Crane pursued by a ghost of the American Revolution Hints that the nation’s history still closely follows its citizens Expresses theme of battle between civilization and wilderness.

10. “Rip Van Winkle” Rip goes from subject of George III to an American Explores the changes after the American Revolution Though continuity necessary, drastic changes vital for a society to grow

11. Took European literary themes and gave them American settings Enchanted person Faust legend (pact with devil) American characters Europe in America

12. Themes and Influences Satirizes historical and overly-exalted figures Memories of New York and America Travel Sketches Not so much short stories as “sketches” No true short stories with unified plots yet

13. Evaluation First American writer to gain international fame Founder and leader of the Knickerbocker Group Exemplified the roles of author, short story writer, essayist, poet, travel book writer, biographer, and columnist First professional writer First American literary humorist Early American Romanticist

14. Bibliography http://www.Kirjasto.sci.fi/Wirving.htm http://www.hudsonvalley.org/education/Background/abt_irving/abt_irving.html http://www.hvnet.com/houses/sunnyside http://www.online-literature.com/irving/ http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/railton/projects/rissetto/irving.html http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/campbell/enl310/irving.htm http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap3/irving.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Irving http://www.underthesun.cc/Classics/Irving/ http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/treasures/american/irving.html http://authorsdirectory.com/biography_online_book_portrait_picture/i_authors_was hington_irving.shtml http://www.nagasaki-gaigo.ac.jp/ishikawa/amlit/i/irving_w19ro.htm