This volume collects the best macabre stories of Washington Irving. Blending sly humour with supernatural thrills, these tales are among the most beloved and re-read of all American fiction.
In the 13 stories gathered for this volume, Irving evokes the colourful landscapes of his Hudson Valley hometown and conjures characters and creatures from its historical past for a unique kind of weird tale that speaks directly to America s experience as a fledgling nation fashioning its own folk heritage.
Selections include: Rip Van Winkle ; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow ; The Adventures of the German Student ; The Devil and Tom Walker ; and The Guests of Gibbet Island .
Who Wrote Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was written by Washington Irving. It was first published in 1820 as part of a collection titled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. The story is set in a small village near the Tappan Zee River in New York and follows the tale of Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher who encounters the mysterious and legendary ghostly figure known as the Headless Horseman.