Book Description
The first American writer to make his pen his primary means of support, Washington Irving rocketed to fame at the age of 26. In 1809 he published A History of New York under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker to great acclaim. The public's appetite for all things Irving was insatiable; his name alone guaranteed sales. At the time, he was one of the most famous men in the world, a friend of Dickens, Hawthorne, and Longfellow, as well as Astor, Van Buren, and Madison. But his sparkling public persona was only one side of this gentleman author. In brilliant, meticulous strokes, Brian Jay Jones renders Washington Irving in all his flawed splendor - someone who fretted about money and employment, sufferedfrom writer's block, and doggedly cultivated his reputation. Jones offers as never before a very human portrait of the often contrasting public and private lives of this true American original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Truly "An American Original"
From the first page, the author's style was engaging and informative.I learned more about Washington Irving than I had imagined could be written about a 19th century author.He lived an illustrous life, especially during his 17 years in England, and he was acquainted with a virtual who's who of that period.I am eager to share this work by Brian Jay Jones to my biography-loving friends and believe they will share my enthusiasm for the contents of the book, as well as the author's colorful usage of the English language.

Entertaining & Informative
This book is refreshing, original and well written.Mr. Jones' prose is vibrant and alive.Most likely, Mr. Irving would have been pleased--although perplexed as to why it has taken so long--that his writing and life are getting such literary care.Good job Mr. Jones. ... Read more

Book Description
A writer of great urbanity and poise, Washington Irving was America's first internationally acclaimed man of letters. Here in one volume are the writings that established his reputation and earned him the admiration of Hawthorne, Poe, Coleridge, Byron, Scott, and Dickens. Written in the character of an elderly gentleman of the old school, "Letters of Jonathan Oldstyle, Gent." is a series of comic reports on the theater, theater-goers, fashions, balls, courtships, duels, and marriages of his contemporary New York. "Salmagundi" continues this roguish style of satire and burlesque, and its freshness, energy, and accomplishment took the Anglo-American literary scene by storm. "A History of New York," a wild and hilarious spoof combining real New York history with political satire, is presented here in its original, unexpurgated version. "The Sketch Book" is a brilliant, captivating story collection that draws on vanishing folkways, depictions of Hudson Valley life, and fable; it contains Irving's best-loved stories, "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

At first I found him pompous
with his Jonathan Oldstyle stories.And I skipped most of the Salmagundi stories, they were boring me. But now the history of New York is very funny and very amusing. It's very long and takes most of the book. There is a total change of style from pompous to light which is very refreshing.

Knickerbocker's History of New York is an overlooked classic
[I recommend this anthology specifically for "Diedrich Knickerbocker's History of New York," which was not listed by amazon.com as a separate title.]

Irving is best-known for his shortstories, which are excellent examples of folk literature (and not likelythe sole product of Irving's imagination)."History of NewYork," however, is what established his reputation in his ownlifetime.It was the first real American bestseller and the first Americannovel to garner critical respect overseas.Irving's ingenious marketingscheme for the novel (placing a series of letters in New York newspapersconcerning the disappearance of the book's supposed author, DiedrichKnickerbocker) was the first instance of off-the-book page publicity inAmerica and its success (it created a veritable frenzy upon the novel'spublication) would not be duplicated for many, many years.

The novelitself is funny, acerbic, charming and illuminating.Working in thetradition of European satire, Knickerbocker's History is nonethelessdistinctly American.Some knowledge of early American history will enhanceyour understanding of the novel (by helping you recognize which Americanpublic figures the Dutch governors are standing in for), but it is notnecessary to an appreciation of the novel on its own terms.The book waspublished in several (revised) editions.I recommend seeking out the 1809or 1812 edition, as Irving toned down his political arguments in laterversions (though the comparison between early versions and the 1848 editionis also worth noting).This anthology contains the 1809 edition of thenovel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Spicy Brew
Some give the sheaf to Charles Brockden Brown but I far prefer the mellow stylings of Washington Irving, the sage of Tarrytown.When I was a boy I was introduced to this splendid body of work by one of my grade school teachers, a collateral relative of Washington Irving, a man who hailed from upstate New York and who carried in his bloodlines some of the authentically spooky platelets of colonial America.During the Napoleonic period the US was not necessarily a pretty place to live in, and Irving's famous story THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN shows us some of the dark underbelly of American life.You really weren't safe out of your own good, and at night travel was even more dangerous.Plus, as anyone who's read the story of Ichabod Crane knows, people were just as prone to jeer and mock the funny-looking as they are today.The story is heartbreaking on two levels, the naturalistic and the symbolic.We all know someone like Ichabod Crane, and many of us find ourselves mirrored in his lonely gaze and terrifying gallop through Hessian country.Irving, like Hawthorne, wrote out many of his tales swearing they were as "his grandfather told him," and thus they are set in a period before his own, a misty place of the past that he knew how to make terrifyingly real and relevant.

My teacher also reminded us that Washington Irving was a very cultured man who believed, like Johnny Appleseed, in planting America with the fruits of other, older lands, so that among his stories you will find some from Europe, re-told to make them apropos and socially relevant for the rawness of a new world.

For horror and fright Washington Irving has few rivals, and the bonus is an added richness as of old apples carpeting a winter meadow, and thus this book, edited by a Twain expert, smells like spicy cider on New Years Eve; lots of good cheer along with your ghosts.

Mystery and Romance in Rural Settings
(This review refers to the PUFFIN Anthology.)

This Puffin anthology presents five of Irving's short stories--tales of fantasy, legend and unrequited love--all set in rural New York and Europe, orignally published in 1820.His literary genius
was quickly evident; the elegant style contributed to his
accolade as "the father of American literature."Despite minimal dialogue the author captivates serious readers with his lush descriptions of scenery, bizarre twists of fate or

imagination, often interspersed with touches of wry humor.

Examining the follies of the human mind, as well as the foibles of the human heart, Irving has chosen the following subjects:
romance, ghosts, ambition, naivety, and pedantry. RIP VAN WINKLE and THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW are set in Dutch New York; THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM in the forests of Germany. THE PRIDE OF THE VILLAGE takes place in rural, Hardyesque England, while MOUNTJOY returns readers to Yankee New York state. This anthology provides delectable reading for an armchair by the hearth--especially in chilly, hobgoblin weather--by a premier raconteur
and US diplomat.

Proof of the talent of an important American author
This wonderful collection proves once and for allthat there is more to Irving than "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". The stories contained within this volume are wonderfully told and sparkle with imagination. The pieces from "The Alahambra" were the most impressive. ... Read more

Book Description
Three story collections of great urbanity and poise from the first American author to burst onto the international literary scene. "The Alhambra," Irving's "Spanish Sketchbook," was inspired by his 1829 residence at the ancient Moorish palace at Granada; weaving history, legend, and description, it remains the best guidebook to this haunting place. Over 120 tales in all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

To hear is to forget,, to see is to remember, to experience is to understand
Once you have visited the Allhambra in Grenada, Washington Irvines book comes to life. The tales come to life. The experience is so magical that you believe the fables may have actually happened. Who knows? I had to purchase the book immediately after my visit and it is the best book purchase I have ever made

Wait until you get back
I think this book is much more enjoyable if you read it after you have visited the Alhambra;two Moorish palaces that sit on top of a mountain in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range of Spain, palaces of incredible architecture and setting, the last outpost of the Moors in Spain.Christopher Columbus waited for 6 years before Queen Isabell would give him ships, she made him wait until theMoors were driven out of Spain.When the Alhambra finally falls, Coloumbus is given permission and ships for his quest a few days later, and the next year the Spanish Inquisition starts.
All of this comes to you if you visit the very romantic/historic city of Granada and the Alhambra, and after seeing the Alhambra restored, having walked its rooms and grounds, having listened to the fountains, letting your immagination run, then read this book, after you return home.Washington Irving's stunt of taking up residence in the rundown, forgotten Alhambra of his time seems even more fantastic.In fact, if you are going to Spain, buy a copy of this book in Granada; they are sold everywhere in different languages, and have pictures of paintings done in the period around Irving's stay.If you haven't been to the Alhambra, you should go.

Don't go to Spain without packing this book!
"Tales of the Alhambra" is must-reading for the traveler in Spain.Irving is best remembered in this country for his collections of American folklore, like the stories of Rip Van Winkle and the Headless Horseman, but in Spain they remember him for the Alhambra stories -- in fact, there's a hotel named in his honor in Granada.Irving lived in that beautiful old Moorish palace at a time when it was a neglected ruin, and his wonderful descriptions, interspersed with the folk-tales that he collected from the people of Granada, helped to spark interest in repairing and restoring the monument.The folk tales, told in Irving's inimitable, witty style, usually deal with romantic elopements, or buried treasure, or both.My personal favorite is the story of the young prince living in the Generalife (the beautiful summer palace) who learned the language of the birds. That one is fantasy, but it's true that there was hidden treasure in the Alhambra: the palace itself, its architecture and decoration, and we have Irving to thank for rediscovering it.

Travel companion
A great book to read while traveling in spain.If you are going to Alhambra, read this book!It will bring the palace alive for you.The writing is very accessable, and easy to follow for having been written so long ago.

forgotten classic
When we were kids, we had a card game called Authors.I think the object was to be able to name the works of famous authors.At any rate, there were three titles that always seemed especially enticing: Idylls of the King, The Heart of Midlothian and Tales of the Alhambra.

Thirty years later, I picked this one up with some trepidation; we've all struggled through classics oftwo hundred years ago, baffled by arcane language & outdated usages.However, to my very pleasantsurprise, the book is terrific, combining an Iberian travelogue with delightful tales and legends ofMoorish Spain.Irving's travels are interesting enough in themselves, but it is the tales, which haveeverything from flying carpets to hidden treasure, that really make the book.

GRADE: A ... Read more

Book Description
America’s first internationally acclaimed author, Washington Irving, was also one of the first to write about its then far-western frontier. After seventeen years in Europe, the famous author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” returned to America and undertook an extensive three-month journey through present-day Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Describing scenery and inhabitants with an eye to romantic sublimity and celebrating the frontiersman’s “secret of personal freedom,” Irving published his account of that journey in 1835 as A Tour on the Prairies, an early and distinctly American depiction of the young nation’s borderland and its native inhabitants.

Irving followed up this eyewitness account with two works that chart the dramatic and tumultuous history of the early American fur trade, very much in the spirit of James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales. Astoria (1836) recounts John Jacob Astor’s attempt to establish a commercial empire in the Pacific Northwest. The Adventures of Captain Bonneville (1837) is a lively saga of exploration among the mountains, rivers, and deserts of the Far West. While working closely from original documents, Irving wrote also as a mythologist of the vast spaces traversed by “Sindbads of the wilderness.” In these three compelling narratives he opened up a crucial region of the American literary imagination influencing such authors as Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville. ... Read more

Book Description
The creator of such quintessentially American fiction as "Rip Van Winkle," Irving earned his preeminence with the masterpieces in miniature collected here: dozens of short stories, travel essays, biographical discourses, and literary musings.Download Description
THE following papers, with two exceptions, were written in England, and formed but part of an intended series for which I had made notes and memorandums. Before I could mature a plan, however, circumstances compelled me to send them piecemeal to the United States, where they were published from time to time in portions or numbers. It was not my intention to publish them in England, being conscious that much of their contents could be interesting only to American readers, and, in truth, being deterred by the severity with which American productions had been treated by the British press. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

"Warm and cheerful pictures of English life"
Washington Irving's "Sketch Book" is an eccentric mongrel of literary types that mingles travel writing, literary reflections, and tales (fiction and historical); it is most famous for "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." In 1931, the literary critic Henry Seidel Canby remarked that "without the two Dutch stories, however, 'The Sketch Book' would not have worn so well. They are perfect examples of what Irving loved to do, and naturally he did them well."

Indeed, few readers ever encounter any of the other selections, except perhaps "The Spectre Bridegroom"--a comic tale of mystery and suspense. What may surprise many readers, however, is that nearly all of the book's remaining entries are about England--mostly about rural life and the landed gentry outside London, or (as described by William Cullen Bryant) "warm and cheerful pictures of English life."

Under the pen name of Geoffrey Crayon, Irving details his sea voyage to England, a comical fishing trip inspired by "The Compleat Angler," a walking excursion through Little Britain (a London neighborhood), and a visit to the library at the British Museum, where he "soon found that the library was a kind of literary 'preserve,' subject to game laws, and that no one must presume to hunt there without special license and permission." He attends a rural church service (during which he pays more attention to the congregants than the rites) and even crashes a funeral party. There are two essays on Shakespeare, a sequence of articles describing English Christmas customs, a biographical account of King James I of Scotland, and a tour of the tombs in Westminster Abbey.

From the safe distance of his exile in England, Irving hurls two essays describing sympathetically "the characters and habits of the North American savage." The phrase is jarring to 21st-century ears, but, while Irving repeatedly uses the unfortunate term, he simultaneously condemns that the "the appellations of savage and pagan were deemed sufficient to sanction the hostilities of both [colonists and writers]." Regardless of its bipolar sensitivity to language, the first essay is a rousing defense of Native Americans: "They cannot but be sensible that the white men are the usurpers of their ancient dominion, the cause of their degradation, and the gradual destroyers of their race." The second essay is a portrait of King Philip, or Metamocet of Pokanoket, the 17th-century chief of the Wampanoag tribe whose conflict with the New England settlers resulted in the near-eradication of his people.

Irving has a tendency to dilute his delight with an abundance of detail, but his mastery of the quip and his sarcasm--so abundant in his "History of New York"--is still on display throughout "The Sketch Book." Its unevenness, ponderousness, and lack of thematic coherence can be challenging, however, and those looking for fiction rather than "sketches" may prefer (as I did) Irving's "Tales of a Traveller," which is comprised entirely of ghost stories, pirate adventures, and tall tales.

Washington Irving slept for forty years
My memories of reading ' The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' and ' Rip Van Winkle ' in school are memories of vague misunderstanding, a haze of wondering what they were all about. This is especially true in regard the story of Rip Van Winkle.But there was nonetheless in the atmosphere of the stories, something of the feeling of oldAmerica, the Dutch- English America so present in the Renssaeleer County I grew up in. Later in life returning to Irving's work I read some of the Alhambra Tales and sketches. All the writing seemed to me to come of ' another world and time' a world and time much more leisurely and slow than the America which was to follow. It is hard to believe but it is little more thanthirty-years between Washington Irving's gentelmanly meanderings, and the American Renaissance of Melville, Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman. Irving is the first American writer known to the world, but he does not really presage the great American creative outburst that is to follow him.
One more point. There is a story from the Talmud about Honi ha- Maagel who goes to sleep for a generation. And when he wakes up finds a wholly new world. He makes then the famous remarks ' Death is preferable to living without friends'. Perhaps Washington Irving too had a sense of being somewhere back in the past, far out of the time of present everyday America. And thus perhaps he suggests that if you sleep too long when you wake up your world is lost and it as if you are dead . i.e. it is as if you have not woken up at all.
Irving in this sense as a writer seems more some one read as a relic than one who gives the kind of inspiring fire his great American successors will provide.

Thoughtful collection of observations, essays, and stories.
I must admit I bought this book solely out of a desire to read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," probably the work Irving is most well-known for today. Every year on Halloween, when I was growing up, a small group of friends and I would watch the old Disney cartoon version of the story while we sorted through our candy. More recently, I fell in love with the 1999 live action adaptation "Sleepy Hollow" starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. I figured it was about time I read the original story to see how these two films stack up in comparison. The rest of the material in the book was of secondary interest to me in making my purchase, but having now read it I can say that, while it wasn't quite what I expected, it was well worthwhile.

The title is both apt and misleading by turns: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other stories in the Sketch Book." The use of the term "other stories" led me to believe that it would be just that - a collection of short fiction stories. Not so. There are three pieces in the book which would fit this description - "Rip Van Winkle," "The Specter Bridegroom," and the aforementioned "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" - but the rest is a conglomeration of various other types of writing. The title "Sketch Book" is very appropriate. Irving has, in essence, provided us with a series of short, literary "sketches" on a variety of subjects and in a variety of styles. The topics vary, but they are also arranged in such a way that one usually flows smoothly into the next, lending a sense of continuity despite the variability of material covered.

A large percentage of the book is devoted to the author's observations on life in England, himself, though an American, having spent 17 years there. Some are purely observational, and some have elements of fiction and imagination woven in, as is the case with "The Mutability of Literature," an interesting little piece in which Irving imagines a conversation between himself and an old book. Irving also occasionally ventures into the realm of satire. Other topics he explores include the differences between America and England, the role of women, English funeral traditions, Christmas, love, etc. He also did travel pieces, including the interesting "Stratford on Avon," which tells of his exploration of places connected with the life of William Shakespeare. Toward the end there are two pieces discussing the lot of Native Americans - not politically correct by today's standards, but offering an interesting insight on the mindsets of the time.

I should probably take a little time to discuss "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" itself, since it was my primary motivation for purchasing the book and, I suspect, will be what draws most other modern readers to it as well. If you've only seen the 1999 movie version, do NOT expect anything remotely similar. The old Disney cartoon is much more accurate. It is actually a very short story - about 32 pages in length. Ichabod Crane is a schoolmaster (not an investigator as in the 1999 movie) in the town of Sleepy Hollow, and falls for the young and lovely Katrina Van Tassel. Katrina, however, is also being courted by a rival suitor, Brom Van Brunt. Following a town "quilting frolic" at which many tales of local superstition are told, including that of the Headless Horesman, Ichabod sets out into the night alone, is beset by a headless rider before he reaches is destination, and is never seen in Sleepy Hollow again. It is left up to the reader to determine what happens to him.

The language of the book is antiquated, to be sure, having been composed in 1820, but it is not difficult to read. Irving's writing is very warm and inviting. He does tend to paint things rather romantically, and the England he shares with us is not the England of the Industrial Revolution during which the book was written, but this almost makes it more appealing as it opens up room for imagination. One must also remember that Irving wrote the pieces in "The Sketch Book" largely to combat his own depression, a condition he suffered from greatly, and he probably needed a cheerful outlet to distract him. We do, nevertheless, get a glimpse of his more melancholy thoughts in pieces like "The Widow and Her Son," "Rural Funerals," and "The Pride of the Village," all of which deal with death.

The last chapter of the book, "L'Envoi," is a closing piece that was included at the end of the second volume of the London edition. It is an interesting collection of the author's thoughts on and explanations for his own work. He makes an interesting note on the ecclectic nature of the book: "His [the author's] work being miscellaneous, and written for different humors, it could not be expected that anyone would be pleased with the whole, but that if it should contain something to suit each reader, his end would be completely answered. Few guests sit down to a varied table with an equal appetite for every dish" (362). Also included is an Afterword by Perry Miller, which offers observations and insights on Irving's life and career.

"...bright gems of wisdom and golden veins of language."
Not to be read quickly and to be savored like fine wine, Washington Irving's "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon" is a matchless classic in American Literature. Written in 1820 and destined to become a true American literary pantheon (along with his preceeding work "Diedrich Knickerboker's History of New York), Irving introduces us to timeless observations and wit that ultimately become enduring discources defining early American Literature.

Irving's mantra with this work is a set of observations, indeed "sketches" of his many travels and musings while roaming through England and his home in upstate New York along the Hudson River. The eternal figures of Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane are evoked in this tome and set a literary standard that others aspire to, but one that Irving effortlessly achieves time and again. Not only does this volume frame these two classics, "The Sketch Book" also contains other literary giants such as "The Angler", "John Bull", "Philip of Pokanoket", "The Specter Bridegroom", "The Mutability of Literature" and "The Art of Bookmaking" wherein the essence of Irving's literary style is neatly conveyed in the following:

"Being now in possesion of the secert, I sat down in a corner and watched the process of this book manufactory. I noticed one lean, bilious-looking wight, who sought none but the worst worm-eaten volumes, printed in black letter. He was evidentley constructing some work of profound erudition that would be purchased by every man who wished to be thought learned, placed upon a conspicuous shelf of his library, or laid upon his table, but never read. I observed him, now and then, draw a large fragment of biscuit out of his his pocket and gnaw; whether it was his dinner, or whether he was endeavoring to keep off that exhaustion of the stomach produced by much pondering over dry works, I leave to harder students than myself to determine."

With a style that has emitted diverse emotions (Lord Byron "unashamedly wept" over the melancholy pieces "The Broken Heart", "The Widow and her Son" and "The Rural Funerals") and having enjoyed over a century and a half of eminent popularity, Washington Irving's "aim in life is to escape 'from the commonplace realities of the present' and to lose himself 'among the shadowy grandeurs of the past' ". Readers tuned in to this philosophy continue to enjoy Irving's literary prose (by buying and re-reading his works), and also, by buying and reading, secure his reputation as a master in American Literature. When one has digested "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon" and "Diedrich Knickerboker's History of New York", one has embraced the essential works of Washington Irving and most would then assuredly join me in saying that he rates eminately in American Literary standing.

This book offers so much
I was happily surprised by this book.I have only heard of Irving's ghost stories, which are great and why I purchased it.As I was reading the other stories, I was surprised to be reading of distant lands and historical sites as well.Normally, that would not interest me, but Irving's imagination is profound.He can turn a run down liabrary into a living soul who speaks and interacts with us humans.He can turn an ancient palace into a love story.The only thing I had a problem with was the old school language.It did make reading a little more difficult, however I plan on reading this book again, so I'm sure the second time around will be easier and I will be able to come back and turn the 4 stars into 5. ... Read more

Book Description
Rough draughts of some of the following tales and essays were actually written during a residence in the Alhambra; others were subsequently added, founded on notes and observations made there. Care was taken to maintain local coloring and verisimilitude; so that the whole might present a faithful and living picture of that microcosm, that singular little world into which I had been fortuitously thrown; and about which the external world had a very imperfect idea. It was my endeavor scrupulously to depict its half Spanish, half Oriental character; its mixture of the heroic, the poetic, and the grotesque; to revive the traces of grace and beauty fast fading from its walls; to record the regal and chivalrous traditions concerning those who once trod its courts; and the whimsical and superstitious legends of the motley race now burrowing among its ruins. ... Read more

Product Description
At New York William Irving entered into trade, and prospered fairly until the outbreak of the American Revolution. His sympathy, and that of his wife, went with the colonists. On the 19th of October, 1781, Lord Cornwallis, with a force of seven thousand men, surrendered at Yorktown. ... Read more

Book Description
Washington Irving--author, ambassador, Manhattanite, and international celebrity--has largely slipped from America's memory, and yet, his creations are still very well known. With a historian's eye for scope and significance, Andrew Burstein returns Irving to the context of his native nineteenth century where he was a major celebrity--both a colorful comic genius and the first name in our national literature. Though he gave his young nation such enduring tales as "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," he was far more than one of our nation's most outsized literary talents. Irving was an American original and a citizen of the world. Two hundred years after Washington Irving became a household name in America, it is time to rediscover him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

It's a lively yet scholarly presentation perfect for all kinds of collections.
Any public library strong in biography or school library strong in literature surrounding Washington Irving will find THE ORIGINAL KNICKERBOCKER a 'must have' acquisition: Irving was author, ambassador and an international icon whose legacy lasts into today and set many trends beyond his literary legacy. THE ORIGINAL KNICKERBOCKER traces all his achievements, adding background history of his times to help emphasize his life and importance. It's a lively yet scholarly presentation perfect for all kinds of collections.

Disappointing biography
This book is dissapointing, at least in Irving's Spanish years. It seems a summary for the school. Burstein doesn't achieve to introduce the reader in the events of Irving's life. The author just say with few words which others tell in great detail. Due to lack of space? The answer is NO, because he fills pages with unnecessary themes from some Irving's books (Colon, Boabdil,...) or general culture. His luck in biographics elements is that all known Irving's letters and journals are already published. The lack of effort of this work serves to value better the thorough investigation of S.T. Williams (1935). Burstein's book is sold as an Irving's biography made by an historian ("at last"), but he seems a mere reviewer, in the era of copy/paste.

The Original Knickerbocker: The Life of Washington Irving
A solid journeyman biography but nothing new and omitted some of Irvings that readers might find interesting such as his life in in NYC and his activity on the Bowery in his early life. Irving was the first American author to earn his living by writing alone. His first work "The History of New York" became his big earner as he revised and printed new editions through his life. The work that he is most remembered for "The Legend of Sleppy Hallow" was writen and published while he was in Europe as part of a folio.

Irving compaired to many if not most writers of his time lead a rather dull and uneventful life. A cliff handing biography of washington Irving would be a challenge for any biographer so we can't fault Mr. Burstein for a rather unexciting story of one of Americas early writers. The biggist event in his life was the none event of his marriage.

A dull depiction of a fascinating man.
I have read one other biography of Irving, most of Irving's work and have two books of his personal notes and journals, so this is not a subject I am unfamiliar with.

First of all it's nice to see someone trying to resurrect this now forgotten but important figure of American Literature. If Americans know him at all, its through cartoons of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Irving is much more - a great wit and merry soul with, as the author points out, a unique combination of romanticism and healthy realism/skepticism.
While I can't find fault with the author's prose, I did not find it inspiring or lively - something I would expect, no, require from anyone writing about Irving.He seems to 'not get' the charm Irving's character - and here's one example:

He tells the famous story of Irving's Scottish maid introducing George Washington to his six year old namesake, Irving. However, he doesn't add in the famous quip by Irving -that his bald spot was the result of the President laying his divine hand on his head (or something like that). Its little details like that that make the story interesting - and a perfect opportunity to illustrate Irving's character.

Nowhere did he go into Irving's influence on other authors: Irving, I understand, is purported to have suggested the "Rebbecca" character in Ivanhoe to Sir Walter Scott, based on an actual Jewish woman he knew or had heard of in Philadelphia. Also, Dicken's admiration of Irving and the fact that Irving's brother was named Ebeneezer should provide a 'connect the dots' for somebody on the ball. [...].

Another glaring omission: Irving's contemplation of pursuing a career as an artist - and the sketches that often accompany his journals.

The Burstein's sometime PC/modern sensibilities were annoying but mercifully few and far between. But he either has a bias or simply didn't do the research into Irving's religious background. While not 'fanatic' or even overtly spiritual - he did convert to Episcopaliansim in secret at trinity church when still a teenager, and later in life served as a vestryman at the Episcopal church in Tarrytown where his personal affects are still on display - how could someone writing a book on Irving not know this? one gets the sense that Burstein never even visited Tarrytown/Sunnyside though I am sure he did. Burnstein doesn't hesitate to go into Irving's condemnation of religious fanaticism and dislike of his father's stern Presbyterianism, so I can only guess that he as an active bias, or he's very sloppy.

I also thought the sections on his stay at the Alhambra and Spain was too short and lacking any vitality. I have stood in the chambers at the Alhambra that Irving was purported to stay in, walked the grounds that so enchanted him and have to say, after doing that, reading Irving's book Tales of the Alhambra, I wonder if Burstien and I are talking about the same place and writer. It's a crime to be mundane about either!

Still overall, I would say the book is worth reading because it's the onlycontemporary source of consolidated information on Irving (I believe that the last biography was over 40 years ago) however, Burstein does notprovide enough of an argument, or 'tools' to justify a long overdue Irving revival. At the end of the day, despite digging his nose into Irving's works and life for some time, Burstein just 'doesn't get it'.
(ps, I would rate two stars, but you can't adjust after submitting) ... Read more

Book Description
The chief part of the stories, however, turned upon the favorite specter of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman, who had been heard several times of late, patrolling the country; and, it was said, tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard. The story was immediately matched by a thrice marvelous adventure of Brom Bones, who made light of the Galloping Hessian as an arrant jockey. He affirmed that on returning one night from the neighboring village of Sing Sing, he had been overtaken by this midnight trooper; that he had offered to race with him for a bowl of punch, and should have won it too, for Daredevil beat the goblin horse all hollow, but just as they came to the church bridge, the Hessian bolted, and vanished in a flash of fire. All these tales, told in that drowsy undertone with which men talk in the dark, the countenances of the listeners only now and then receiving a casual gleam from the glare of a pipe, sank deep in the mind of Ichabod. . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

A Wonderful Love Story
This ghost story is wonderfully told and I highly recommend it to readers of all ages. It is a particularly good read during Halloween. The fact that it is told in third person contributes to its overall good qualitity because I felt as though I was an outside observer watching the characters progress.
I enjoyed the plot of this story, for it is a sweet love story in which two men fight to court the beautiful Katrina. Along the way, the town is haunted by the headless horseman, who will defeat anyone who crosses his path. I developed sympathy for Ichabod Crane as he watched the love of his life with the fierce Brom Bones. Described as a social outcast, Ichabod is a lonely person with an overactive imagination. I admire him for his intelligence and determination and I believe that many teens can relate to him today. We have all felt the feeling of rejection, or as though we didn't belong. Even though the situation is not in Ichabod's favor, he perseveres and tries to regain the affections of Katrina. On the other hand, I learned to dislike Brom Bones because he reminded me of a typical bully. With his tough exterior, Brom Bones intimidates many people in the town.
The plot is very simple, yet Irving uses an abundance of words to describe his characters. The descriptions of Ichabod, Katrina, and Brom Bones are very specific, allowing readers to appreciate them more and imagine them as real human beings. Irving's language is poetic and he uses imagery continuously. The descriptions are so vivid, that they seem almost dreamlike.
The end of the story is magnificent and it startled me because I did not see it coming. Even though the circumstances were not to my favor, I found the ending to be very clever and suspenseful. Personally, I enjoy both love stories and horror films, so this short story met my expectations. It is special because people can relate to it even hundreds of years later. The simple plot mixed with a sophisticated word choice make this story one to be read for generations.

An entertaining story
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is an intriguing tale that is much more profound than it seems.

The overly superstitious townspeople, including Ichabod Crane, are fascinated with scary, ghost stories that permeate the town as the dreamy Dutch community is a perfect setting where people are absorbed in myths and superstitions. With its ambiguous ending, this story leaves the reader questioning what is true and what is merely fantasy. This is interesting as it allows the reader to believe what they want. I determined that the appearance of the Headless Horseman was a hoax by Brom Bones, but disliked that there was no definite answer to the mystery of the Headless Horseman.

Irving's fluid style is amazing as he aptly creates the settings, especially dreamy environment of the town. His exceptional descriptions are, at times, witty, and at others, suspenseful, demonstrating his ability to conjure up a wide range of moods.

As Ichabod Crane's downfall is caused by his strong belief in superstitions, Irving warns of the dangers of believing in superstition too fervently.

This classic tale is one that readers of all ages will enjoy for its riveting storyline, unique characters, and delightful style.

Sleepy... really sleepy...
Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", is known for its poetic, flowing style. Yet, the rest -plot, theme, characters, and setting -limit the short story's zest, turning reader after reader away with its repetitive dullness.
I have to admit, however, that Irving's style is fantastic in this story -the lengthy drawn-out sentences and chains of details matching its mood and atmosphere perfectly. Each description creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind, excluding no details and offering every type of poetic rhetorical device. Alliteration, similes, metaphors, personification -Irving does it all. Yet, eventually the writing also becomes tedious. Readers skip over chunks of sentences, scanning for the next major plot. He hopes for another spark of interest, a reason to continue the story. Unfortunately, the reader ends up disappointed, for the plot is annoyingly short: Ichabod Crane, the main character, is the town's schoolteacher. In love with the beautiful Katrina's wealth, Crane competes with Brom Bones, who also desires Katrina's hand in marriage. However, one night Crane finds himself pursued by the Headless Horseman. Terrified as his worst nightmare comes to life, Crane loses his reason, a subject of his active imagination. And the next day, he's gone.

Since Irving spends much of the story introducing each character and setting precisely, by the time the reader gets to the actual story, it is about over. Having finally understanding each character, the reader might expect a reward for sticking through the details -perhaps a juicy plot to accompany the characters. Yet, after detailing every characteristic to its absolute end, the story ends. Readers are given no chance to care about the characters, and the story loses its appeal and memory in the reader's minds.

With its themes well-hidden behind its style, The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow is neither a fun nor an easy read. Close diligent speculators will approach the story as a puzzle, an enigma to be eagerly solved. Yet, casual readers of the short story will gain nothing, perhaps muttering some praise for its style before quickly finding something more interesting. Learning nothing about how the story can relate to us, readers finish the story confused about its purpose and message. Because of this, the author fails to communicate with the reader, seeming to only strive to entertain the reader.

Although the setting also matches the style and overall atmosphere of the story, it is unrealistic. A town of dreaminess, where everyone is void of reason and rationality, and only fascinated with superstition and the imagination. Visions and hallucinations are prevalent in this town, and time slows down to a dreamy tempo. As much as the town of Sleepy Hollow seems different and perhaps even interesting, it is impractical. Thus, readers are again unable to connect to the story, distanced away from the book.
While its graceful lyrical style can render it stylistically a good read, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow contains barely any plot and discernible themes. It really is all style and no substance.

delightfully entertaining !
I remember reading this story as a child, how it was frightening and suspenseful at times, but always entertaining and an enjoyable read. Re-reading this classic American story for academic purposes, to my surprise I found that the same feeling still persisted through the years, only this time with a deeper understanding of the rhetorics and it's witty brilliance. Irving's exceptional and unique way of combining suspense and humor makes this story a must read for everyone.

The sheer length of the story already got me excited. It's short and a fast-read, but not compromising for its quality. The story primarily deals with a man named Ichabod Crane, a teacher immediately following the American Revolution. Ichabod surrounds himself with beliefs of mystical creatures and legends, such as that of the Headless Horseman. His superstitions are what ultimately brings Ichabod to his downfall. Not only Ichabod, but the entire town is certain that such a creature exists, although no one has uncovered evidence, and as a result myths fly around and everyone is on their toes about the whole issue. This goes to show Irving's primary argument and purpose in this story: that false supersitious beliefs will ultimately lead to ones downfall, as is the case for Ichabod.

The overall tone of this story is light and lyrical, with a dash of wit and humor thrown in to add spice. Irving's eloquent and flowy writing makes this story enjoyable just from the sound of the language, and has an unusual combination of freight and suspense with light-hearted humor. Throughout the book, Irving also gives examples of some of the dark elements present in the story. For example, Irving warns readers that they are about to enter a sleepy land that is open to supernatural happenings. The mythical events that happen in the land correspond to ideas of dark romanticism that incorporated fantastical occurrences. However, not the entire book is plagued with dark and serious elements. For example, the character of Ichabod Crane is intended to be comical, because Irving assigns odd characteristics to him, such as an abnormal nose and gangly frame. Through such traits, Irving adds humor that is shown through the character of Ichabod from the otherwise dark and gloomy storyline.

All in all, this story is simply a must read for any lover of American literature.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
I havent read this book since I was a kid and it is as classic as ever. ... Read more

Book Description
Washington Irving's dreamlike description of Spain's Granada and the beautiful Moorish castle, the Alhambra, remains one of the most entertaining travelogues ever written. Enhanced here with exquisite Spanish guitar music, the narrative is a heady mix of fact, myth, and depictions of secret chambers, desperate battles, imprisoned princesses, palace ghosts, and fragrant gardens, described in a wistful and dreamlike eloquence, will transport listeners to a paradise of their own. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Part Spanish Arabian Nights, Part Travel Writing, All Wonderful
Many Americans know Washington Irving as the author of "the Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle". Few realize that he was also a world traveler, scholarly fluent in Arabic and Spanish and something of an Hispanophile, to the say least.
Irving's book is largely responsible for the widespread romantic image of Spain. It is a collection of observation, history, fairy tale, written in Irving's unique blend of romanticism and healthy skepticism. It is roughly framed by his journey to the Alhambra and his departure from it, an in between we are given a tour of the grounds and hear a few tales (including tales of Moorish ghosts on headless horses) which are roughly intertwined as in the Arabian Nights. Indeed, this little book is the 'Arabian Nights' of the west.
Before visit the Alhambra read this book. If you are not planning on going, read it and you'll probably change your mind.

Long on myth. Short on facts.
Washington Irving is credited with bringing the glorious history and unbelievable beauty of the Alhambra, in the city of Granada, (the last stronghold of the Moors in the South of Spain) to Western conciousness.

After spending a day at the Alhambra last Summer, and passing by the closed apartments that he occupied, I decided to listen to his book while driving one hour each way to work. (any short trips won't work because all of the 'tales' are lengthy)

My title says it all. If you are a student of dry history this book is not for you. Only about 20-30 minutes will satisfy your curiosity for the facts. If you enjoy legend and lore this book is it. The bulk of the book tells numerous stories of princes and princeses, kings and soldiers, common laborers such as mule drivers and water carriers, loves found and loves lost, and especially the perrenial human lust for long lost and buried treasure, etc., all told with a wonderous style and feel for southern Spain of the 13-th to 15-th centuries.

The factual account of how Columbus finally came to agreement with Isabella and Ferdinand to sign the contract for the three ships, almost by chance in 1492, while the two sovereigns were outside Granada laying the final siege of the Alhambra fortress, is mind blowing. History came 'that close' to having Columbus sail three French ships instead of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

If you want just the facts, look elsewhere. But if you are planning a trip to Granada and the Alhambra, definitely pick up this book, along with a second, more fact based, and give a read or listen. I wish I had done that before my trip. It would have given much more life and enjoyment to the place as I walked through the various rooms and towers and gardens that Irving so lovingly describes.

Wonderful
I am a Moor and I relate to the stories well. The stories reminded me of the things to avoid for the things that will come. A Moorish Empire will rise again.
Irving starts with his personal journey then he has several stories of gallant and modest characters which makes you feel your in the garden or the palace. It brings back what love was and how it should be. I really like the story of the Father striving to keep his son from learning about love. I know no matter what you do you can never lock love away because of its power and its vast estate one would have to know it is impossible. This is a worth while reader for anyone who knows and wants the best from humanity for it is the Moors who created civilization and it is their station to restore it.

A Classic Written by an American Classical Author!
This wonderful book written by a well-loved American author details his travels in Spain, and more specifically in the Castle Alhambra.These tales are delightful, and seemlessly weave from fact to fiction to history to folklore.It is a true travel log, done oh so many years ago, and done with Irving's whimcical and enchanting style.The sketches give a good description of Spain and travel in the early 1800's.Older children and adolescents would probably enjoy these sketches.

Tales of the Alhanbra used book
On 7/24/04 through Amazon Marketplace I purchased this used book.
It arrived within the week and was excellently packed and shipped by bea4books@yahoo.com. A lovely "Thanks for Buying!" note was included with the invoice. The book is in very good condition with wonderful pictures. A surprise was that it had belonged to the Austin Public Library - a favorite city of mine. I'll be ordering more through you! Thank you. ... Read more

Product Description
A charming volume of old English Christmas traditions written by famed American author Washington Irving and illustrated by renowned British illustrator Randolph Caldecott.This book has been restored and reprinted from the 1886 edition. It is a high quality reproduction that retains the typesetting and illustrations of the original, which adds to the charming antique feel of the book. The image on the paperback cover has been reproduced from the original gilt hardcover graphic. This volume also features a small blank plaque on the title page that would be perfect for the owner's name or a gift inscription. ... Read more

Book Description
Tor Classics are affordably-priced editions designed to attract the young reader. Original dynamic cover art enthusiastically represents the excitement of each story. Appropriate "reader friendly" type sizes have been chosen for each title--offering clear, accurate, and readable text. All editions are complete and unabridged, and feature Introductions and Afterwords.This edition of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow includes an Introduction and Afterword by Charles L. Grant.Sleepy Hollow is a strange little place...some say bewitched. Some talk of its haunted valleys and streams, the ghostly woman in white, eerie midnight shrieks and howls, but most of all they talk of the Headless Horseman. A huge, shadowy soldier who rides headless through the night, terrifying unlucky travellers.Schoolteacher Ichabod Crane is fascinated by these stories....Until late one night, walking home through Wiley's swamp, he finds that maybe they're not just stories.What is that dark, menacing figure riding behind him on a horse? And what does it have in its hands?And why wasn't schoolteacher Crane ever seen in Sleepy Hollow again?Download Description
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Featured is the terrifying headless horseman, the gawky Ichabod Crane and the peerless Katerina. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (51)

At least Amazon filled this order, unlike last year.
I give my neices and nephews storybooks each year for Christmas.
Last year, I ordered all the books in September and Amazon filled most of the order, but kept delaying several of the books.Christmas came and went, and I had to give some of the kids candy and promises that their books would come later.It took 12 months, until September of this year, when Amazon admitted they could never fill the order.So, this year, I tried hard to find the books in other places, but unfortunately, I had to order a few from Amazon.Despite my low expectations, the books showed up on time.

Mr. Rogers meets Saw 3
I will keep this quick because it was already a waste of time to read this book. They used these horrible drawing for the book that look like my little brother did them. Basically they messed up the story and made it for kids. They made it a childrens book, if that is what your looking for then it is good.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
By: Washington Irving
Review by Tristan
Did you ever hear of the headless horseman?If you didn't, now you will.
Ichabod Crane is a thin, odd-looking school teacher of Sleepy Hollow. He likes Katrina Van Tassel and also her father's farm. Katrina Van Tassel is a pretty, young flitter of sleepy hollow. Her father, Baltus Van Tassel, is a wealthy man who has a harvest feast. Ichabod borrows Gun Powder ,a horse, to get to the feast. Ichabod is competing for Katrina. His nemeses Brom Bones, the town's dare devil.
So, one day when he just borrowed Gun Powder and he fell asleep in Sleepy Hollow's little valley. Some people say it was curse by a German doctor or by an Indian Chief the wizard of his tribe who held his Pow-Wows there. So he falls asleep and wakes up face to face with the HEADLESS HORSEMAN. Some people say he's a ghost of a cavalry revolutionary war officer and he got his head shot off. Does Ichabod live or die?
If you like to read scary books this is for you, but if you like Elmo it's

Reflections of the Old World Through Washington Irving's Tales
Indeed, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle" are the capstone stories to THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW AND OTHER STORIES, OR THE SKETCH BOOK OF GEOFFREY CRAYON, GENT.However, it is the other 32 essays and short stories that are the jewel to the Modern Library Classics'edition of Washington Irving's most widely read literary tales.Through the psyeudonyms of Diedrich Knickenbacker and Geoffrey Crayon, Gent, Irving produced his most revered works, HISTORY OF NEW YORK AND SKETCH BOOK, which both reflect on the state of early nineteenth century America -- 40 or more years after the American Revolution and soon after the War of 1812, and later the dawn of the Industrial Age.Irving's stories have the same flair of Charles Dickens's, but with a nostalgic quality.

The best part of the book is the humor and observations that Irving wrote from both sides of the Atlantic.His flowing and quite descriptive prose livens his stories, especially the haunting Halloween classic "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.""Rip Van Winkle" has a bit of Jeffersonian thought about idleness.But addition to these tales, Irvings invites all to share a little holiday fair as he takes readers into the fun and folly of an Old English Christmas with five delightful stories:"Christmas," "The Stage Coach," "Christmas Eve," "Christmas Day," and "Christmas Dinner," which all echoes Dickens in mind.However, these were written years before "A Christmas Carol."

Beyond the folklore tales that resonate the Old World, Irving also writes about Native Americans.He tells the story of the Indian in "Traits of Indian Character" and "Philip of Pokanoket"; the latter is the tale of the legendary figure King Philip.The last passage of "Philip" definitely strikes an ironic chord, "...he lived a wanderer and a fugitive in his native land, and went down, like a lonely bark foundering amid darkness and tempest - without pity eye to weep his fall, or a friendly hand to record his struggle" (266).

Washington Irving's THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW AND OTHER STORIES are filled with a treasure trove of American literature.All the stories are suitable reading for any season, or merely for the pleasure of reading a collection of stories that reflect on a historical past.

headless horseman
Ichabod meets a lovely girl named Katrina but she used him to make Brom Bones mad and then Ichabod leaves in sorrow and then the Headless Horse Man throws a pumpkin at Ichabod's head and then Ichabod is never seen again.
People who shouldn't read this are the people who can get scared very easily.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Powerful & sagacious review of the first Commander in Chief
Washington Irving's biography on Washington is by far the most detailed review on our first President from youth through his post Presidential years.Given that Mr. Irving personally met George Washington at the young age of 7, Irving's book has all the more relavence than today's revisionist historians can ever provide.However, the "old english" that Washington used in his correspondence makes for difficult comprehension.It is interesting to note that by 1850 the change to a more modern writing style by Irving presents a clearer picture of Washington's time, but it still requires an occasional re-read to fully understand Irving's point.A person with a limited interest in the Revolutionary War may be better suited to purchasing a more contemporary biography for ease of reading.

However, this book does provide such insite into the minds of Washington and those around him and it allows the reader to finally start to understand why our Founding Fathers risked all for the sake of freedom and liberty from the English.Today we take for granted rights that never existed anywhere in the 1770's and such historical works penned in the mid 1850's provides an insite that should be required reading for both liberals and conservatives.Overall, the book is long and difficult to read, but well worth the time, effort and cost.

A Great Bio of a Great Man
The life of Washington should be required reading for everyone. The amount of difficulty he faced throughout his life is unimaginable to modern man. Washington had a life of privilege which is the main reason he was placed in a position of responsibility so early in life. However, in all of his campaigns he was dealing with shortages, sicknesses and other difficulties that make our own seem not so difficult.
Reading this work will provide the reader with an understanding how lucky America was to have a man of such temperament at her founding. Washington was a man of great intellect. He proved that by defeating the British on a number of occasions. He was a man of high honor which he proved when the various cabals tried to remove him from his office and he answered them with excellent performance and an absence of the acrimony so many would have used. He was a man of incomprehendable determination. The crossing of the Deleware, the winter at Valley forge and hundreds of other examples prove this. He was a man of tremendous resourcefulness as is shown by his ability to field an army when provisions were always in want for many years and at the same time attend to so many other details.

Washington Irving's work will provide the reader with an excellent understanding of all of these qualities. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Washington's life. The vast majority of this work deals with the revolution so if you are interested in the early years or the later years you will not find a great deal of detail in this particular work.

A great bio of a great man
The life of Washington should be required reading for everyone. The amount of difficulty he faced throughout his life is unimaginable to modern man. Washington had a life of privilege which is the main reason he was placed in a position of responsibility so early in life. However, in all of his campaigns he was dealing with shortages, sicknesses and other difficulties that make our own seem not so difficult.

Reading this work will provide the reader with an understanding how lucky America was to have a man of such temperament at her founding. Washington was a man of great intellect. He proved that by defeating the British on a number of occasions. He was a man of high honor which he proved when the various cabals tried to remove him from his office and he answered them with excellent performance and an absence of the acrimony so many would have used. He was a man of incomprehendable determination. The crossing of the Deleware, the winter at Valley forge and hundreds of other examples prove this. He was a man of tremendous resourcefulness as is shown by his ability to field an army when provisions were always in want for many years and at the same time attend to so many other details.

Washington Irving's work will provide the reader with an excellent understanding of all of these qualities. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Washington's life. The vast majority of this work deals with the revolution so if you are interested in the early years or the later years you will not find a great deal of detail in this particular work.

This was a fascinating book: detailed, but not without flaws
This edition of Washington Irving's biography of George Washington hasbeen substantially reduced in size via editing from the original editions,published in the 1850's. Irving was one of, if not the first Americanauthor to receive literary acclaim in the salons of Europe. This book wasIrving's life's dream. The book details Washington's life, military career,and political thoughts in a very deferential way, as the author appears tohave remained in awe of the "Great Man" who had patted him on thehead when he was but a child. Irving seems incapable of finding any faultwith Washington, and his conclusions on that score probably do not fullyreflect later historical thinking. The book does suffer from a lack ofmaps, as the stories of the military campaigns of the Revolutionary War arerecounted in great detail. In addition, having been written almost 150years ago, there is a substantial amount of archaic word usage that couldgive your dictionary a workout, if you are so inclined. In addition, thebook treats the latter stages of Washington's life thinly, due largely, Ibelieve, to Irving's declining health as the last editions of hismulti-edition biography was being written. Thus, if your focus is onWashington's Presidential years, look elsewhere.Otherwise, one couldhardly choose a better biography of Washington; it is probably the oldestbiography of Washington that is easily accessible to the average readertoday.Overall, the book was very enjoyable to read. ... Read more