Washington Irving

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Washington Irving

Diedrich Knickerbocker; Geoffrey Crayon; Henry A. Buchanan; Jonathan Oldstyle. All were famous writers of the nineteenth century. All had one important thing in common-they are all one man-Washington Irving. Using these pen names, among many, Irving developed a legacy of utilizing European culture to cultivate American aspects of literature.

Fred Lewis Pattee asserted, "American short story began in 1819 wit Washington Irving." (Gale Group 4) Irving is best known for his fictional works. These pieces include the popular "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", "Rip Van Winkle", and "The Devil and Tom Walker". Each of these works left a mark on American fictional literature. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", from The Sketch Book by (pen name) Geoffrey Crayon. This story was turned into an operetta by Douglas Moore, entitled "The Headless Horseman". Also, it was revived as a Disney animated film "The Adventures of Ichabold and Mr. Toad", as well as the 1999 version of the short story, Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" (starring Christina Ricci and Johnny Depp). (Oldstyle 4)

Each of these accomplishments were not only Irving's or the film industry's, but to the benefit of American journalism with the use of European influence. As a young man of a fresh nineteenth century, Irving traveled most of the time in Europe. He served as secretary of the United States legation in London, England in 1829, minister to Spain from 1843 to 1846, and lived to serve a number of years experiencing European life and expressing it through his work. (Oldstyle 2) In "Rip Van Winkle", Irving skillfully manipulates the reader. It seems that the character Rip is a poor provider, but Irving carefully turns the dislike to the wife. Tho...

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...ided to write a similar theme to Irving. This caused Irving to abandon this idea and look elsewhere for ideas. (Oldstyle 2)

Returning to his home after three more years in Spain, Irving spent his time (of course) around his literature. He became the President of New York Public Library and later published his five-volume The Life of George Washington (to whom he was named after). Irving died quietly in Tarrytown on November 28, 1859 in his sleep.

His works will be remembered and celebrated, as they are, for long after even we are gone. His experiences in Europe have helped shape American literature in both non-fictional and fictional senses.

"There rise authors now and then, who seem proof against the mutability of language, because they have rooted themselves in the unchanging principles of human nature." (from The Mutabilities of Literature)(Oldstyle 3)

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