WASHINGTON WASHINGTON IRVINGIRVING

(1783-1859)(1783-1859)

He was born He was born (April 3, 1783) (April 3, 1783) in the city of in the city of York, in the York, in the family of a family of a prosperous prosperous merchant who merchant who came to America came to America from Scotland. from Scotland. He was brought He was brought in an easy & in an easy & carefree carefree atmosphere. atmosphere.

Washington, Washington, the youngest the youngest of eleven of eleven children, children, being sickly being sickly in childhood, in childhood, was not sent was not sent to school.to school. His His English-English-born mother born mother had him had him educated at educated at home. home.

He was well-read in Chaucer & Spencer, & the 18He was well-read in Chaucer & Spencer, & the 18thth

century English literaturecentury English literature

He was wandering He was wandering around the country-side around the country-side

& he made himself & he made himself familiar with places familiar with places famous in history & famous in history &

legends.legends.

When he grew older, he longed When he grew older, he longed to travel. Tales of voyages to travel. Tales of voyages

became his passion.became his passion.

At 15 he tried his At 15 he tried his hands at writing hands at writing

but his father but his father wanted him to be a wanted him to be a

lawyer. At 17 he lawyer. At 17 he was sent to study was sent to study

law. But Irving law. But Irving avoided a college avoided a college

education, but education, but studied law studied law

himself, mostly in himself, mostly in the office of Mr. the office of Mr. Hoffman, with Hoffman, with

whose daughter he whose daughter he

soon fell in love.soon fell in love.

In 1802 Irving produced a number In 1802 Irving produced a number of satirical essays under the signature of of satirical essays under the signature of Jonathan Oldstyle, Gent. for the Morning Jonathan Oldstyle, Gent. for the Morning Chronicle, made several trips up the Chronicle, made several trips up the Hudson, another into Canada for his Hudson, another into Canada for his health. health.

In 1804, a journey to Europe undertaken In 1804, a journey to Europe undertaken for the sake of his health, stimulated his for the sake of his health, stimulated his

interesting foreign culture He visited many interesting foreign culture He visited many European countries.European countries.

In England he In England he loved to wander loved to wander among ruined among ruined castles & old castles & old

abbeys.abbeys.

FRANCEFRANCE

In Paris he studied science at In Paris he studied science at the university.the university.

SWEDEN & SWEDEN & HOLLANDHOLLAND

ITALYITALY

There are

3 periods of writing

the 1st 1806-1815

the 2nd 1815-1833

the 3rd 1833-1859

After 2 years of travelling he After 2 years of travelling he returned to the USA & started a returned to the USA & started a humorous periodical. The paper humorous periodical. The paper was popular for its good humour.was popular for its good humour.

He wrote “A History of New York by He wrote “A History of New York by Diedrich Knickerbocker”, a satire of Diedrich Knickerbocker”, a satire of the Dutch regime in New York. The the Dutch regime in New York. The publication of this book was the first publication of this book was the first

step on the road to Romanticism. step on the road to Romanticism. Later Knickerbocker became a by-Later Knickerbocker became a by-name for restaurants, omnibuses, name for restaurants, omnibuses,

manufactured goods & newspapers.manufactured goods & newspapers.

This name was adopted for the first American This name was adopted for the first American school of writers, the “Knickerbocker Group”, with school of writers, the “Knickerbocker Group”, with

Irving as a leader.Irving as a leader.

The 1The 1stst period of writing was period of writing was humorous & satirical. humorous & satirical.

““A History of A History of New York by New York by Diedrich Diedrich KnickerbockKnickerbocker”. er”.

The grief over a sudden death of The grief over a sudden death of Matilda HoffmanMatilda Hoffman in April 1809 in April 1809

traumatized him.traumatized him.

In 1815, after his mother’s death, In 1815, after his mother’s death, Irving went to Liverpool to attend to Irving went to Liverpool to attend to the interests of his brothers’ hardware the interests of his brothers’ hardware firm.firm.

It was during It was during the European the European period of his period of his life that Irving life that Irving wrote books wrote books which brought which brought him him international international acclaim. They acclaim. They were were romances & romances & essays. essays.

The 2nd period.The 2nd period. The European period of his life The European period of his life includes essays & romances:includes essays & romances:

““Tales of a traveller”Tales of a traveller”““The Devil & Tom Walker”The Devil & Tom Walker”““Rip Van Winkle”Rip Van Winkle”

With the help of Walter Scott he With the help of Walter Scott he published the first collection of his published the first collection of his

writings writings

““The Sketch BookThe Sketch Book” in 1819. ” in 1819. ““Bracebridge HallBracebridge Hall” in 1822. ” in 1822. ““Tales of a travellerTales of a traveller” in 1824. ” in 1824. ““Rip Van WinkleRip Van Winkle” ends this ” ends this

collection & itcollection & it

is considered to be the first is considered to be the first American short story . American short story .

““RIP VAN RIP VAN WINKLE”WINKLE” The title character The title character

goes to sleep after a goes to sleep after a game of bowling & game of bowling & much drinking in the much drinking in the mountains with a mountains with a band of dwarves. He band of dwarves. He awakes 20 years awakes 20 years later, an old man. later, an old man.

Back home, Rip Back home, Rip finds that the world finds that the world he knew has he knew has completely changed: completely changed: his wife is dead, his his wife is dead, his daughter is married, daughter is married, & the American & the American Revolution has taken Revolution has taken place. place.

The Statue of Rip Van The Statue of Rip Van WinkleWinkle

The Legend of a Sleepy The Legend of a Sleepy HollowHollow

Its central character, Its central character, Ichabod Crane, is a Ichabod Crane, is a vain & cowardly vain & cowardly teacher & the rival in teacher & the rival in love of Brom Bones. love of Brom Bones. Bones terrorizes Bones terrorizes Crane by disguising Crane by disguising himself as a himself as a legendary headless legendary headless horseman. horseman.

““The Devil & Tom Walker”The Devil & Tom Walker”

It’s a story from It’s a story from the book “the book “Tales of a Tales of a travellertraveller”. It’s based ”. It’s based on an old German on an old German legend about a man legend about a man who has sold his soul who has sold his soul to the devil. Other to the devil. Other writers had used it in writers had used it in their works, among their works, among them the great them the great German poet & writer German poet & writer Goethe, who used this Goethe, who used this legend for his “Faust”. legend for his “Faust”.

In 1826, he accepted an In 1826, he accepted an invitation to join the American invitation to join the American

diplomatic mission in Spain.diplomatic mission in Spain.

Irving’s other works of his European period Irving’s other works of his European period were written in Spain. He wrote “were written in Spain. He wrote “ColumbusColumbus”, ”,

the conquest of Canada.the conquest of Canada.

These works were notable achievements These works were notable achievements as popular history written in fine prose.as popular history written in fine prose.

After 17 After 17 years years

abroad, abroad, Irving Irving

returned to returned to America America with a with a

desire to desire to portray his portray his country.country.

In In “A Tour of the Prairies”“A Tour of the Prairies” he shows sympathy for the he shows sympathy for the

Indians.Indians.

Irving made his home at Irving made his home at ““SunnysideSunnyside”, a place in his ”, a place in his

beloved valley of the beloved valley of the Hudson River, in his Hudson River, in his

declining years wrote declining years wrote a a biography of Oliver biography of Oliver GoldsmithGoldsmith & & ““Life of Life of

George WashingtonGeorge Washington”.”.

, ,

““A Tour of the Prairies” A Tour of the Prairies”

““A Biography of Oliver Goldsmith”A Biography of Oliver Goldsmith” ““The Life of George Washington”The Life of George Washington”

He died in 1859.He died in 1859.

He introduced Romanticism as a He introduced Romanticism as a literary trend in America pointing literary trend in America pointing

out the way for Cooper & later out the way for Cooper & later Longfellow.Longfellow.

F.Cooper

H.Longfellow

Both home & abroad Both home & abroad Washington Irving is Washington Irving is considered the truly considered the truly

American whose stories American whose stories entered school & entered school &

university curricula university curricula

during his lifetime.during his lifetime.

Irving entered Irving entered American literature American literature mostly for his mostly for his splendid short splendid short plots. The imagined plots. The imagined presence of an presence of an audience outlines audience outlines the spirit & imagery the spirit & imagery of the story. of the story.

He was famous for his He was famous for his quotations.quotations.

A sharp tongue is the only edged tool A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use. that grows keener with constant use.

Little minds are tamed & subdued by Little minds are tamed & subdued by misfortunate; but great minds rise above misfortunate; but great minds rise above it. it.

W. Thackeray W. Thackeray called Irving called Irving

the first the first literary literary

envoy from envoy from the New the New

World into World into the Old the Old

Europe. Europe.

His best His best known & known &

first first American American

short short stories stories

The legend The legend of a of a

Sleeping Sleeping Hollow & Hollow & Rap Van Rap Van WinkleWinkle are still are still

among the among the favourite favourite classics.classics.